Armed police officers in a stand-off with a man who claimed to have a gun and allegedly made threats to kill people have made an arrest.

A police helicopter buzzed overhead as officers negotiated with a man sat in a parked car in Addiscombe in Croydon, south London.

Homes and businesses were evacuated, schools were locked down and people were urged to stay away from the area while police peacefully resolved the situation.

Officers rushed to the neighbourhood just after 8.30am on Tuesday following reports that a man was walking around with a gun, MyLondon reports.

The man allegedly called police and threatened to kill people.

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(Image: SWNS)

(Image: MyLondon/ WS)

Police found the suspect in a car in Pagehurst Road, near the junction with Lower Addiscombe Road, but as they approached him he intimated he was armed with a gun, the force said.

The armed man is thought to have a wife and daughter as a woman nearby reportedly overheard police trying to negotiate with him to come out of the car.

Lorraine Harding was unable to leave her home all day due to the police operation.

She said: “We can hear from my daughters back window because it’s only two houses along.

(Image: SWNS)

(Image: SWNS)

“We can hear and see the man speaking out of the car window. Police are asking him what the problem is.

“I couldn’t really hear what he was saying but I could hear the police shouting.

“I just heard that he has a daughter and a wife because the police said ‘your wife and daughter love you - please get out of the car’.”

Photos taken by witnesses showed police vehicles surrounding a red car, which appeared to have a "Baby on Board" sign in the back window, as armed officers and a police dog stood nearby.

A witness told MyLondon: "I stepped out to go to the park across the street with my dog and on the way back the officers had closed off [part of the road] and were telling people to get back.

(Image: mylondon)

(Image: Twitter)

“They said ‘for your own safety go back’. I asked them if it was a bomb and they told me it wasn’t.

“Armed police officers turned up and then more police officers with a dog.

“I could see that the red car was surrounded by police vehicles as well as several armed officers.

“I noticed the man opening the car door a few inches, probably to speak back to the police."

(Image: SWNS)

(Image: mylondon)

At least four schools in the area were on lockdown - Oasis Academy Shirley Park, Oasis Academy Arena, Oasis Academy Ryelands and vocational college Road 2 Success.

However pupils were allowed to leave on time after schools were told that the situation had been 'contained'.

Local MP Sarah Jones assured residents that there was no wider threat to the public.

She tweeted: "I’m at the scene, numerous response units are here. Please avoid the area and don’t worry- we have superb police on hand keeping us safe."

There were claims on social media that a "man with a gun" was walking around before police arrived.

(Image: Twitter)

A local resident wrote on social media: "So my mums work in Addiscombe has been blocked off as a man with a gun is walking around the main road outside all cordoned off now by police!"

Another wrote: "Anyone in and around Addiscombe stay away bloke with gun walking around.

"Police trying to find him. Mums locked in work!"

And one posted: "So SWAT team now have the guy surrounded (he’s in a vehicle) and there appears to be a stand off!"

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the incident is believed to be "domestic".

(Image: mylondon)

The force said: "Police were called at 8.32am on Tuesday, 19 March, by a man who stated he would kill people.

"Officers attended Pagehurst Road near the junction with Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe.

"A man was found in a car at the location and when approached he intimated he had a firearm.

"Armed officers, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade have attended the scene."

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 10:07am today (19 March) to reports of an incident on Pagehurst Road, Croydon.

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“We sent an ambulance crew, a single responder in a car and an incident response officer to the scene.

“We are working closely with other members of the emergency services and remain at the scene.”