Police armed with pistols and riffles descended on Romford last night searching for a man in his 20s.

Ilford Recorder: Armed police used the BP garage as a base to run the operationArmed police used the BP garage as a base to run the operation (Image: Archant)

Residents were told they could not return to their houses as police scattered around the Dagenham Road and Rush Green Road junction.

Ilford Recorder: A cordone was in place for about two hours last nightA cordone was in place for about two hours last night (Image: Archant)

The police helicopter was involved in the search which began at about 5.45pm.

More than 50 residents were left to watch on as road after road was cordoned off and armed police jumped over fences looking for the man.

Father of two Suki Jhita, 42, of Rush Green Road, had just gone out to the shop when he was told he could not return to his house.

“It was a big operation,” he said. “I couldn’t get back to my house so called my wife and told her to lock all the doors and just stay undercover. Lots of people were stuck and ended up in the pub.”

Armed officers swooped on an address in Old Church Gardens, Romford, just of Dagenham Road, to make an arrest but the suspect ran off.

Two men were arrested at the scene but the third man is still being looked for.

The cordon was lifted at about 8pm.