STUNNED residents spilled on to the streets after armed police brandishing machine guns arrested a man in his home.

Police vehicles had rushed to The Bungalows, in Pinehurst, after a man was reported to be brandishing a knife outside his home.

Numerous units swarmed on the address including police vans, dog teams, armoured police and more than five duty officers.

During the incident a 54-year-old local man was arrested and taken to Gablecross police station for questioning.

Inspector Charlie Ducker was happy the situation was resolved quickly.

He said: "We responded to a report of a man wielding a knife in and around his front garden.

"As a result of making contact with the occupant of the residence, we were able to make an arrest to prevent breach of the peace and it was made without incident.

"We are continuing to investigate."

But many residents and bystanders believed that the show of force was a waste of police resources.

Onlooker Adrian Myers said he could not understand why more than 10 officers were called to the scene.

He said: "It seemed like a lot of police considering it was for only one man. It looked like a terrorist operation.

"I saw at least six armoured police with machine guns, more than 10 regular police, with about seven police cars and vans - everyone, including the dogs were here.

"It seemed excessive to everyone looking on. The only reason I can imagine they did it is because it was Pinehurst and they had to take that into consideration.

"There seems to be a lot going on in Pinehurst at the moment and the police are cracking down."

On-duty inspectors justified the use of force saying that they take reports involving the use, or the potential use, of weapons very seriously.