Police arrest man after 25-hour church stand-off

A church with a police van and car parked on the roadside.
Officers have been outside the church since Thursday afternoon [Edd Smith/BBC]

Police officers called to a church where a man was reported locked inside with a knife have made an arrest.

Norfolk Police was called to St Martin's Church at Overstrand, near Cromer, just before 16:00 BST on Thursday.

Armed officers and specially trained negotiators were at the scene while the church was contained.

Police said they entered the church shortly after 17:30 BST on Friday and arrested a man in his 30s.

The force said the man was not injured and was receiving medical care.

A 12-in (30cm) machete and a sharpened flagpole were recovered from inside the church.

Police had earlier warned people to stay away from the scene but said there was not believed to be any wider threat to the public.

Ch Insp Nick Paling said: "We would like to thank the public for their patience and assistance as we did our very best to manage this incident as safely and as quickly as possible.

"I'm pleased this has now ended and the man is being looked after by medical professionals."

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