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Rubber bullets were fired 'at a man's groin area' after a dramatic four-hour police stand-off in Wirral.

Shocked neighbours claim a knife-wielding man was making bomb threats and refused to leave a property on Stonebridge Court, in Bidston, Wirral, when the baton rounds were fired.

An enormous police response was sent to the cul-de-sac on Saturday at about 2.30pm following an "armed containment", police said.

Witnesses reported seeing at least three armed officers, a police negotiator and a fire engine on the usually-quiet street.

(Image: Jason Roberts photography)

It's understood a woman, who police have taken no action against, was inside the home while officers tried to get the man to come outside.

According to neighbours, the man said: "I'll have one more ciggie then I'll come out, let me have one more ciggie."

Police were trying to coax the woman outside and told her "it would be ok" and "he needs to follow you to come out", according to witnesses. She reportedly did leave the home first as police calmly told her to "just keep walking".

It's alleged the man stayed inside for about 30 more minutes, before opening the door brandishing a "meat cleaver".

A neighbour said officers were telling the man, who is understood to not be from the street, to empty his pockets, before they shot at his groin area.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, claimed she was told to "stay indoors" and children were told not to play out as they witnessed the emergency response.

(Image: Jason Roberts photography)

She said: "We just got told to stay in. He was saying he had knives and a bomb, it was horrendous. He wouldn’t come out."

Of those children, a two-year-old was told to stay in as they tried to go outside, their mother said.

Merseyside Police have confirmed "two baton rounds" were fired during the incident.

Baton rounds are non-lethal projectiles which can be rubber bullets, beanbags

A spokesman for the force said: "The suspect was safely detained and sustained minor injuries, which are being assessed."

The spokesman added: "Merseyside Police can confirm that a man has been arrested following an armed containment in Bidston, Wirral this afternoon, Saturday 11 January.

"At 2.30pm, a call was received reporting a disturbance at a residence in Stonebridge Court, involving a man allegedly in possession of a knife.

"Armed officers and a negotiator attended at the scene along with other emergency services. At around 6.50pm, a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill; public nuisance and possession of a bladed article.

"Thank you to local residents for their patience while the incident was resolved."

A neighbour said the whole incident was a "nuisance" that stopped residents in their tracks as the whole area was "cut off".