A PENSIONER of 73 was one of three men arrested after reports of a gunman on a quiet estate on Monday night.

Up to 16 officers and about eight police vehicles were involved in the incident outside a house in Alderton Way, Trowbridge.

Police received an emergency call at 9.45pm and firearms officers, the police helicopter and a trained firearms dog were quickly deployed.

Insp Glynn Hookings, of Trowbridge police, said: "We received a call from a member of the public stating there was a car outside with a person in it who they believed had a firearm and was making threats to use it against them."

The green Ford Focus car was parked outside a house for two hours while the police assessed the situation.

It was decided no negotiations would be carried out with the occupants and firearms officers were deployed to go directly into the situation.

The road remained open during most of the incident but was cordoned off for a short time, in the interests of public safety, while officers approached the car.

No firearms were found but an extendable baton, of the type used by police, was recovered.

Police arrested three men, aged 73, 47 and 23, all from Trowbridge. They have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

People living nearby were told to stay in their homes and many looked on in shock from their windows.

Near neighbour Gloria Stenhouse said: "I had no idea what was happening. I saw the police out of the window and thought 'what the hell is going on'.

"I have lived here 22 years and never seen anything like this before." Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "This is a quiet area and a good Neighbourhood Watch area."