ARMED police were called to a quiet Melksham street after a man threatened neighbours with a handgun.

Residents in Somerset Crescent watched as squad cars surrounded the gunman's house on Saturday evening, May 4.

The drama started around 8.30pm when a neighbourly dispute escalated out of control.

Several residents phoned the police after being threatened with the handgun which turned out to be a ball-bearing replica gun known as a 'BB gun'.

A two-hour operation to locate the gunman was launched by armed and uniformed officers.

A 39-year-old man was arrested and taken to Melksham police station for questioning.

He was released on police bail until June 5 to allow police to make further inquiries.

Sgt Mike White, of Melksham police, said: "It was very scary for the neighbours who had no idea whether this was a genuine handgun.

"We have to treat it like a real gun incident, which is why armed police were called in."

The gun incident comes just two weeks after 19-year-old Melksham man Geoffrey Chislett was sentenced to 200 hours community service for brandishing a BB gun in the town centre.

Chislett shot an employee at The Farmhouse Caf in the back, fired at a bus and damaged two parked cars in a rampage last December.