A LARGE police presence swooped on a street in St Helens this evening, with armed officers reportedly on the scene.
The dramatic scenes unfolded on Borough Road, near to the junction with Prescot Road between 5pm and 6pm.
Road closures were put in place on both roads, leading to extensive disruption during rush hour.
Pictures taken by alarmed onlookers showed what appears to be police marksmen at the scene.
The situation was scaled back by 6.30pm, although significant police activity remained in the area.
Merseyside Police has remained tight-lipped about the situation, with a force spokesperson issuing a one line statement saying officers were dealing with an “ongoing incident.”
Police could be seen stationed outside properties on Borough Road and three police vans were parked up next to Willowbrook Hospice’s headquarters, though there is no suggestion the charity’s venue was anyway invoked in the the incident.
Officers were also spotted in an alleyway off Enfield Street. The alley runs behind houses on Borough Road.
However, officers did not expand on their reasons for being in the area and it is not clear if any arrests have been made.
A statement read: “We can confirm that officers are currently on Borough Road, in St Helens, this evening, Thursday, August 17 to deal with an ongoing incident.”
It is the second time this week that police have swooped on a street in the area.
On Tuesday officers made five arrests on Freckleton Road, West Park, in connection with shots being fired in Prescot.
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