A YOUNG mother was held hostage by a man thought to be armed with a knife.

Shocked residents in Deighton looked on as armed police surrounded the house where there was also three young children inside.

Negotiators spent several hours yesterday trying to get a peaceful resolution to the situation on a street close to Riddings Road.

The Examiner understands the woman was a mother-of-three.

Police were first called at around 8.30am yesterday but at 11.45am armed teams arrived on the scene.

One man, who asked not to be named, saw the whole drama unfold.

"When I first came up here I didn't have a clue what was going on."

He said there were many police vehicles already in the road and a friend of his told him what was happening.

He said at around 9.45am the children in the house were passed out of one of the windows.

They were all unharmed.

Then finally, at close to 1.50pm, there was a breakthrough.

The witness said: "The police were all stood round the side and as soon as the woman came out about eight officers ran into the house.

"As soon as she came out they all went in straight away and arrested him.

"She ran out with a police woman and she was just hugging the police woman.

"Her mum was waiting on the corner for her."

Shortly after the man was taken away in a police van.

Another woman, who lives nearby, said: "I'm just happy she got out for the kids' sake."

Police had sealed off a stretch of Chestnut Street and Riddings Road from Woodhouse Hill to Ruskin Grove.

A man was being questioned by police last night.