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Armed police remain outside Halifax bank in Blackpool in six-hour stand-off with a man on a mobility scooter who poured petrol inside

A huge emergency service response was launched following the incident at the Halifax branch on Church Street shortly after 2pm today (September 28).

A large cordon continues this evening along Church Street, St Johns Square and Cedar Square and members of the public are advised to avoid the area.

Earlier this afternoon, more than a dozen shops including M&S, Ladbrokes, Nandos and Greggs were closed and other nearby buildings were evacuated.

In a statement at 6.45pm tonight, a Blackpool Police spokesperson said: "Emergency services are still at the Halifax bank in Blackpool. We continue to ask people to avoid the area if possible."

Originally Posted by Scarlett. (Post 10923689) He was detained at 2am after giving himself up peacefully, he's been detained under the mental health act.

Originally Posted by arista (Post 10923690) Bloody Old Git "An 80-year-old man has since been detained under the mental health act. A cordon will remain in place around the bank while investigators attend."