Bomb disposal teams were called in to search a property in Leigh after a man was arrested for a firearms offence.

Residents said they were “unnerved” by the incident in Treecot Drive, which saw police stationed outside a house in the street for more than 24 hours.

The drama started at 10.30pm on Wednesday when officers were called to St Cedd’s Church, in Bridgwater Drive, Westcliff.

They spent the night and the morning searching the grounds of the building. Just after noon on Thursday more officers brandishing handguns and a sniper rifle surrounded a house in nearby Treecot Drive, Leigh.

A man was seen coming out of the property with his hands in the air. He was pulled to the floor and handcuffed. A woman and three children were then led out of the house.

One man, aged 57, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm. Police remained at the property all day and night and carried out a detailed search of a shed in the back garden. They also towed away an ice-cream van that was parked on the drive.

One neighbour said: “I have never seen so many police before in one place. We assumed it was all over after the raid but then the bomb disposal van turned up at about 9pm. They had dogs and were in and out of the place all night.”

The shed under investigation is fairly large and covered in a number of black tarpaulins.

Officers also spent Friday afternoon examining two cars that were parked around the corner in Treelawn Drive.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “We are starting to get worried about it now because first there were armed police, then the bomb squad. Nobody has told us anything. It would be nice if they at least gave us a hint as to whether it’s safe to stay here. It’s very unnerving when it’s 24 hours and it’s obviously something serious.”