THE calm of Old Town was shattered this morning when armed police stormed a property in Devizes Road.

Five people have been arrested and are currently in police custody.

Officers with weapons drawn and wearing ballistic armour and helmets descended on the target - believed to be a flat accessible by the alleyway that runs behind Dotty's Cafe - shortly before 9.30am.

They had gathered in nearby Hoopers Place for a briefing moments before striking.

In addition to the armed response units, plain clothes officers and dog units were also used in the raid.

A rapid response 4x4 from the South Western Ambulance Service waited in an adjacent street on standby but was not called upon.

Shortly after 10am, a man was brought from the property in handcuffs and placed in the back of a marked police van before being taken away.

Two recovery vehicles then arrived at the scene to assist the police. A silver Fiat Punto was removed from the area behind the flats while a blue Audi S3 was removed from nearby Joiner Lane.

It is believed that both vehicles were connected to the operation.

Police activity appeared to quieten down for a period after the removal of the first vehicle, but at around 11am, four more marked police vehicles arrived with sirens blaring and lights flashing.

Around a dozen additional officers made their way to the property at the centre of the raid.

A short time later, three more people - a woman and two men - were brought out in handcuffs, placed into police vehicles and driven away to custody.

A fifth person is now also understood to have been arrested.

Officers were still at the scene as of 11.45am where it is believed a search operation is ongoing.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: "Officers are investigating an ongoing incident in the Old Town area this morning.

"The investigation is still at its early stages but we have made five arrests in connection with the incident and these five people are currently in custody at Gablecross."

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  • A man is led away by police