ARMED police were called after a man believed to have access to a gun threatened to harm himself and a woman.

Officers rushed to the scene in Layer Road, Colchester, shortly after 5pm on Tursday.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We received reports a man had made threats to harm himself and a woman at an address in Layer Road, Colchester.

"We also received information that he was possibly in possession of a firearm.

"We attended the scene and quickly arrested him on suspicion of making threats to kill and possession of a firearm.

"The woman was not harmed during the incident, which is being treated as domestic in nature.

"Inquiries are ongoing."