Armed police cordon off street amid reports man 'has a weapon' as people watch from windows

Armed police have sealed off a residential street this afternoon amid unconfirmed reports a man has locked himself inside a house and "has a weapon". The road has been cordoned off, with officers reportedly focusing on a terraced property.

A police officer at the scene on Ritson Street in Toxteth, Liverpool, has told people there is an "armed incident" relating to a "domestic incident", the Liverpool Echo reports.

Ritson Street and Lodge Lane have been cordoned off with Merseyside Police officers in attendance. Several police vehicles are at the scene, including armed officers and specialists who are understood to be negotiators.

A crowd of people have also been gathering outside the cordon on Lodge Lane, with some residents on Ritson Street watching the police response from their upstairs windows and front doors.

The negotiators appeared to leave the scene at around 1.30pm. Merseyside Police are yet to confirm that nature of the incident.