Armed response unit called to samurai sword-wielding man in Scarborough

Police and the armed response unit were called to the incident off Roxby Road

Mark Witherington helped to reassure elderly residents, contained the outburst and called the police to the incident off Roxby Road, Thornton-le-Dale, around one hour ago.

The 50-year-old said: "I arrived on the cul-de-sac where I live with my wife and walked down the street and saw a guy wielding a samurai sword about.

The samurai sword that the elderly man was wielding this afternoon

"I basically took control of the situation and reassured folks until the police arrived.

"He wouldn't let anyone by him and my main concern was if anyone came up the alley way near him it would have been too late for them to see.

"One car pulled up and I managed to get to them so they didn't get out the car and get involved in the situation."

The armed response unit were called after the police assessed the situation. The elderly man complied with their orders and dropped the sword.

The former pub-licensee added no one was harmed from the situation.