Armed police stormed an Ilkley house last night after a siege involving a "deranged" knifeman which lasted for more than two hours.

Officers armed with guns surrounded the terraced house in a quiet Ilkley street after the 50-year-old man threatened to stab members of the public and police. The siege was ended after officers smashed their way through the front door of the house in Brewery Road and overpowered him.

He was arrested under the Mental Health Act and for making threats to kill and was led away to a waiting police van.

Two large kitchen knives were seized from the property.

The man was taken to Airedale General Hospital and was expected to be transferred to a secure unit later today.

After the drama a woman at the house said: "It is a sensitive matter and it is personal. We don't want the world to know our business."

Police were alerted to his presence at the house at 11.25am yesterday. The road was sealed off at 6.20pm after a neighbour noticed him making threats.

Police burst into the house after attempts to negotiate with him had failed.

Inspector Chris Moorehouse-Everett, of Keighley police, said: "We received a call saying there was a deranged man at the house armed with a number of knives.

"He was threatening the occupants of the premises.

"We were there for about two hours laying siege to the house.

"Police entered the premises successfully and overpowered the man."

Quinton Smith, who lives nearby, captured the drama on film. "I have lived in Ilkley all my life and I have never known anything like this. He was screaming and shouting as he was led to the van," he said.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire police said they believed the man was suffering from a mental disorder.

"He was threatening to assault and injure people and when officers started to negotiate with him threats were made to them," he added