Armed police surrounded a block of flats in Yarmouth last night after two men barricaded themselves inside following an earlier incident in which a woman was injured.

Armed police surrounded a block of flats in Yarmouth last night after two men barricaded themselves inside following an earlier incident in which a woman was injured.

Nearby homes in Southtown Road were evacuated as a precaution while trained negotiators were brought in to try and end the siege, which began at about 5pm when the 23-year-old woman was hurt.

She was taken to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston where she received treatment for her injuries and was later released into the care of relatives.

A stretch of the street near the three-storey flats, which are close to the Jet Garage, was cordoned off with police tape during the drama and a crowd of about 30 people gathered to witnesses events.

About 20 residents, who had been asked to leave, were allowed back into the building at about 9pm after the four-hour siege ended peacefully with the arrest of two men in their 20s on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

Speaking from the scene, Insp Julian Moulton, from Norfolk police, said: “There was what was believed to be a domestic related incident resulting in a female being injured. As a result of the extent of her injuries and the weapons believed to have been used, firearms officers were deployed to the scene and the premises were sealed.

“One male gave himself up as did the other following some negotiation.”

It is believed a loft space and a window were damaged during the incident.

One man whose home was evacuated, dressed only in a t-shirt, said: “I was watching television when I heard the sirens and they stopped outside. I looked out and the police were talking to a girl. The ambulance turned up and I think they were trying to get her to go to hospital for treatment. Then armed police turned up. I live in the top flat so I came down to see what was going on and was asked to leave.

“It's normally an alright place to live, we normally keep ourselves to ourselves.”

Another man, who asked not to be named, said: “We went to bingo and when we got off the bus just after five there were lots of police here with shields.”

Dane Steckner, 27, who lives at the back of the flats, said: “I just thought it was another yob, not anything serious. A few people phoned me up and said the police were outside. They told me there might be a weapon. Police put spotlights out in the back garden so they could see.”