RESIDENTS of Barry’s High Street say they have been left ‘petrified’ after the second gun scare in less than a month.

The street was cordoned off by armed officers on Sunday afternoon as a police negotiator, flanked by an officer with a gun and a shield, attempted to talk to a suspected gunman inside a house.

Chameleon tattooist Lee Clement said: "The big team of armed police arrived and we all thought ‘not again’ – but this time it was much more serious.

"They had full body armour and then a negotiator came out and started talking towards the house.

"No-one came out though, and then the police packed up and left – one minute they were all there, the road was closed, and the next thing they are all gone and we weren’t told anything.

"I just wonder what’s coming next week."

One woman who lives near the targeted house said: "We are petrified. I’ve got young children so to see armed police here is frightening.

"I don’t like talking about it – you don’t know who it is and what’s going on.

"No-one has been around to tell us what has happened – and a similar thing happened two weeks ago.

"We saw the police with guns that time, and I didn’t know that they were dealing with a fake gun until I read the paper."

On May 9, armed police responded to an incident in which a replica gun had allegedly been used to make threats in the street.

Another neighbour added: "We are frightened of what will happen.

"It looks like a quiet street and we thought it was a nice place to live but there are guns and all sorts here, and we don’t know what’s going on.

"All we see is the police with armour, dogs and guns closing the road and we have to stay inside. It’s terrible."

A police spokesperson said: "As part of an ongoing investigation, armed officers were deployed to the Barry area on Sunday as a precaution whilst searching for a male.

"A man has been arrested without incident and no weapons were recovered.

"South Wales Police would like to thank the local community for their patience and co-operation."