A SIEGE lasted almost seven hours as police tried to entice an 18-year-old man - allegedly armed with swords - from a house in Eglinton Road at Swanscombe, near Gravesend.

Police officers sealed off the road at both ends, keeping crowds of onlookers at a distance while negotiators communicated with the man.

The drama began yesterday afternoon. Residents in the road were told to remain inside their homes.

At about 7.30pm last night, the man left the house of his own accord and was later being questioned by senior police officers.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S GRAVESEND MESSENGER