AN ARMED response team was called out at the weekend after a family dispute prompted a large-scale manhunt.

Some members of the family sought sanctuary at a police station while officers and the police spotter plane searched for a man in his 30s following reports he was armed.

The drama started at the Green Lane travellers' site in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, late on Friday night, later moving on to St Helen Auckland and a caravan in the grounds of Witton Castle.

It ended peacefully at Saturday lunchtime when the unnamed man gave himself up to police back at the Green Lane caravan site. He was released on bail after questioning and inquiries are continuing.

Inspector Dave Allaway said: "We took this matter very seriously because of what we were told.

"There were threats made and damage caused. There were serious concerns for his family. Some of them came to the police station for safety.

"We have to take all allegations like this seriously and the armed response team, with dogs, was called in. All necessary steps were taken to protect the public.

"We went to a number of locations through the night, then on Saturday at 1pm we were called back to the site after the armed unit had been stood down. We had to act quickly and local officers with the Bishop Auckland dog section contained the area.

"The man was challenged and he gave himself up. He was not carrying a weapon when he was arrested and no one was hurt.

"We don't know whether he had a weapon earlier. That will be part of the investigation."