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Armed police at farmhouse 'siege' | Armed police at farmhouse 'siege' |
(30 minutes later) | |
Armed police have surrounded a farmhouse with two people inside after council officials were threatened and cars reportedly set on fire. | Armed police have surrounded a farmhouse with two people inside after council officials were threatened and cars reportedly set on fire. |
Witnesses in Llangeitho, near Tregaron, Ceredigion, said they saw a crossbow after a row over a fence escalated. | Witnesses in Llangeitho, near Tregaron, Ceredigion, said they saw a crossbow after a row over a fence escalated. |
Trouble broke out after council officials arrived at the house during the morning to removed a wooden fence. | Trouble broke out after council officials arrived at the house during the morning to removed a wooden fence. |
Officers surrounded the property in the hamlet of Stagg's Head. Negotiators are trying to resolve the situation. | Officers surrounded the property in the hamlet of Stagg's Head. Negotiators are trying to resolve the situation. |
The existence of the fence had been the subject of complaints by members of the public for some time Ceredigion Council | The existence of the fence had been the subject of complaints by members of the public for some time Ceredigion Council |
The occupants of the farmhouse or smallholding, which lies between Llangeitho and Lampeter, were reported to have moved into the area several years ago. | The occupants of the farmhouse or smallholding, which lies between Llangeitho and Lampeter, were reported to have moved into the area several years ago. |
Neighbours said the family involved were a mother and three sons and they had since gained a reputation for being very protective of their property. | Neighbours said the family involved were a mother and three sons and they had since gained a reputation for being very protective of their property. |
It has been reported that the family built a heavy wooden fence near to the road about which there had been objections. | It has been reported that the family built a heavy wooden fence near to the road about which there had been objections. |
Llangeitho is in a normally quiet rural area of mid Wales | Llangeitho is in a normally quiet rural area of mid Wales |
At about 1100 GMT on Wednesday, council officials arrived at the property with a legal notice and a digger in tow. | At about 1100 GMT on Wednesday, council officials arrived at the property with a legal notice and a digger in tow. |
It is believed two of the brothers were in the house, with the rest of the family elsewhere. | It is believed two of the brothers were in the house, with the rest of the family elsewhere. |
A Ceredigion Council spokeswoman said: "An incident took place near Llangeitho, Tregaron, this morning when council officers were threatened and the private vehicle of one of the officers was damaged. | A Ceredigion Council spokeswoman said: "An incident took place near Llangeitho, Tregaron, this morning when council officers were threatened and the private vehicle of one of the officers was damaged. |
"The situation is being controlled by the police and there is no current risk to members of the public or council officers. | "The situation is being controlled by the police and there is no current risk to members of the public or council officers. |
"Council workers had commenced action to remove a row of posts and fencing material which had been erected without permission along the carriageway of the B4578 by an adjoining landowner. | "Council workers had commenced action to remove a row of posts and fencing material which had been erected without permission along the carriageway of the B4578 by an adjoining landowner. |
"The existence of the fence had been the subject of complaints by members of the public for some time." | "The existence of the fence had been the subject of complaints by members of the public for some time." |
Dyfed-Powys Police blocked the road leading to the village | Dyfed-Powys Police blocked the road leading to the village |
A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "The police have surrounded a house, but we have not been involved yet. We are at a rendezvous point nearby." | A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "The police have surrounded a house, but we have not been involved yet. We are at a rendezvous point nearby." |
Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs from the area of the property. | Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs from the area of the property. |
John Emrys Davies, who lives nearby, said he saw plumes of smoke coming from the smallholding. | John Emrys Davies, who lives nearby, said he saw plumes of smoke coming from the smallholding. |
He added: "There are fire engines, ambulances and quite a few police [at the scene]. | He added: "There are fire engines, ambulances and quite a few police [at the scene]. |
"They have been there since before midday. The helicopter is there as well." | "They have been there since before midday. The helicopter is there as well." |
For several hours, a police helicopter circled above the rural area but had landed as darkness fell. | For several hours, a police helicopter circled above the rural area but had landed as darkness fell. |
Police said on Wednesday evening that the situation was ongoing. | Police said on Wednesday evening that the situation was ongoing. |
Insp Mark James said: "Police officers attended with employees of the local authority in relation to a boundary issue and threats were made and vehicles were damaged. | Insp Mark James said: "Police officers attended with employees of the local authority in relation to a boundary issue and threats were made and vehicles were damaged. |
"The incident is ongoing and will hopefully lead to a peaceful outcome." | "The incident is ongoing and will hopefully lead to a peaceful outcome." |
He said negotiators were at the scene and there were no hostages involved. | He said negotiators were at the scene and there were no hostages involved. |