A town centre man hunt was launched this afternoon after a man made threats to kill staff at a hostel in Brecon.

Armed police were called to Castle Street at 12.40pm today as a man was behaving aggressively and thought to be carrying a firearm at Gwalia Housing's hostel.

Officers searched the hostel building as well as the surrounding area and a man was found and arrested by the police at 1.43pm, nearly an hour after being called. He remains in police custody.

A woman who was at Castle Street at the time but did not want to be named said: “You could see armed police at the bottom of Castle Street, and there seemed to be police everywhere.

“There was one person on the ground with four coppers sat on top of him.”

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman said: “Officers, including armed officers, attended the scene. All staff were accounted for and removed from the property safely.

“A search of the property and the surrounding area was carried out by armed police. The suspect was found and detained at 1.43pm.

“A 20-year-old man from Brecon was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and making threats to kill. He remains in police custody.

“An air rifle has been seized from the scene.”