ARMED police were involved in a six-hour siege after two teenagers were threatened by a youth with what appeared to be a machete.

Officers sealed off the street and surrounded a house where they believed he was hiding, but it was later found to be empty.

The drama unfolded in Medomsley, near Consett, County Durham, shortly after 6.30pm on Sunday, when the teenager was seen with the weapon.

Police were called by the mother of one of the boys who was threatened.

One man, who asked not to be named, said he saw a teenager carrying what he thought was a sword, smashing a van windscreen as he walked up the street in Denecrest.

"He was waving it in a threatening manner," he said.

"I didn't know what it was at first. I thought it was a stick, but I was a bit shocked when I realised it was more like a sword."

Officers arrived on the scene quickly and residents were ordered to stay in their houses for their own safety.

A marksman had a gun trained on the house and police using loudhailers tried to encourage the man to come out from the home they believed he was hiding in.

The house was eventually searched at 12.30am on Monday, but no one was found in it. Officers are still hunting the teenager.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "Teenagers were threatened by another teen who was armed with what appeared to be a machete.

"Police were at the scene and carried out a search for the assailant. There was a search of the area over the next few hours.

"What sparked the incident is not entirely clear, but it is believed that all of the people are known to each other."

A neighbour said: "People are genuinely worried about the fact that there was someone running around with a machete. Anything could have happened."

Anyone with information is asked to call 0845 6060365.