Eye-witnesses have spoken of their shock after armed police swooped on a town centre shop following reports of a man with a gun.

A 39-year-old shop worker was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and a handgun was recovered during the incident at Witchcraft Tattoo, in Cavendish Street, Keighley.

The drama unfolded in front of stunned onlookers in one of the town’s busiest shopping streets.

Officers were called to the premises shortly before 12.30pm yesterday and sealed off the road.

Some shopkeepers were evacuated and others told to lock their doors as armed officers in flak jackets surrounded the tattoo shop.

Shoppers were held back beyond Hanover Street and East Parade as officers made their move on the building.

Onlookers said police brought out a man – believed to be handcuffed – and placed him in an ambulance about two hours after the incident began.

Roy Lambert, of nearby Cavendish Cameras and Photography, said: “We were told to keep inside the shop. Police were lined up across Cavendish Street with automatic weapons."

Superintendent Gary Baker, of Airedale and North Bradford Police, said the man was arrested “without incident” and no shots were fired.

He said: “Officers found a small handgun in the shop but this was not used to threaten any officers.

“It is believed the male was suffering from ill health and he was taken by ambulance to Airedale General Hospital.

“I want to stress that armed officers arrived at the scene quickly and there was very little threat to members of the public.”

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