RIOT police were forced to drag a teenager from his first-floor bedroom window after he started a fire and began hurling burning objects on to the street below.

After a two and a half hour stand-off, officers eventually stormed the Hampshire home using a ladder to climb up and break into the room where the youngster had barricaded himself inside.

The drama at residential Winnards Park, off Barnes Lane in Sarisbury, was sparked by reports of a domestic dispute at a detached home in the quiet close at about 12.30pmyesterday.

Neighbours described seeing the youth running riot, threatening to injure members of his family and himself. The teenager then barricaded himself in an upstairs bedroom and trained negotiators were drafted in to try to persuade him to give himself up.

The siege ended when police took a decision to go in at 3pm.

Burning objects, thought to be a bin and a lampshade, were being thrown on to the pavement at the front of the house. Officers used a ladder to reach the youth and drag him from the property, where he was arrested and taken into custody for questioning.

Eyewitness Vicky Wallis, 27, of Barnes Lane, said: "I saw the police there and at first I thought they were just doing speed traps or something. But they kept coming and coming until there were dozens of them. At least no one was injured though."

Another resident, who asked not to be named, added: "It was absolute pandemonium, very, very dramatic."

Police spokesman Julie Knight said: "A 17-year-old youth from Sarisbury has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and assault.

"The fire was causing a risk to the youth and the property.

"It was all brought to a peaceful end by 3.10pm."

Officers from the force support unit, negotiators, Solent East Unit and Hampshire's dog unit were involved in the operation, led by Supt Robin Jarman and Insp Kevin Cuffe.

Fire and ambulance crews were on the scene as a precaution.