POLICE sealed off streets in the centre of York and called in armed officers and dog units after a man threatened officers and fired a crossbow from the window of his flat.

A police van was damaged when the man then threw a large display firework, which exploded on the ground and sent parts of the device whizzing down the street into the police cordon.

The drama began just after 10pm when officers were called to a report of a disturbance at a second-floor flat above the Coffee Republic coffee bar in Market Street.

Police said the man was abusive and threatened them with violence, so they withdrew for their own safety.

After reports that he had fired a crossbow from his window into the street, officers sealed off Market Street, Feasegate, Spurriergate and the end of Coney Street nearest the scene.

As well as the firework, which showered the front of the Woolworth's store with debris, the man also threw other items from his flat, possibly even a television, into the street.

Firearms officers armed with Heckler and Koch MP5 machine pistols moved in to train their sights on the building as dog teams stood by. A fire tender was also brought in.

A police negotiator was called and just before 1am the man, who had been alone in the flat, gave himself up to police.

A neighbour living in a nearby flat, who did not want to be named, spoke to the Evening Press by phone during the siege.

He said he had locked himself in his kitchen after he heard a violent disturbance from the man's flat at about 8.30pm.

He said: "I could hear lots of screaming and banging and smashing and then the police arrived. It got a lot worse then. The guy was screaming all sorts of abuse. I think he was drunk.

"It has been pretty scary. I'm physically shaking."

Drinkers in the nearby Hansom Cab pub were locked in just before 11pm as police sealed off the area. They were allowed to go at about 1am when the all-clear was given.

Student Sadie Hall, 20, said: "We sat in a window seat and the police came in and moved everybody away from the windows. They said there was a man with a crossbow outside."

Her friend, student Graham Watts, 20, said: "At about 11.30pm I heard what sounded like at least five shots. The landlord said the guy was throwing fireworks out of the window."

Ms Hall added: "A few people got a bit aggravated then and starting going for the door but the barman got them to sit down."

Inspector Andrew Lunt, who led the operation, said: "We gave the appropriate response for the protection of the public, ourselves and the man himself.

"The good news is that it came to a successful conclusion and the man left his flat and gave himself up without it being protracted."

About 20 officers were involved in the operation.

A man was later charged with making threats to kill, affray and criminal damage.

He was due to appear before York Magistrates on Saturday morning.

Updated: 16:44 Friday, August 10, 2001