POLICE were involved in a four-hour stand off with an Oldbury man armed with a knife.

Officers were called to a flat on Hartlebury Road at around 2.30pm on Saturday, May 27.

A 34-year-old man was threatening to harm himself with a knife and police negotiators and firearms officers spent hours trying to talk him out safely.

They eventually forced their way into the flat just after 6.20pm to bring the incident to a safe end. The man was taken to hospital.

While this was ongoing, Hartlebury Road was closed as a precaution.

This was the second knife-related drama in the Black Country yesterday afternoon.

A short time before, Blackheath town centre had been in lockdown after a knifeman was seen fleeing the Sainsbury’s supermarket after starting a fire in the store toilet.

He was later arrested and is currently being quizzed by police.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “Police were called to a disturbance at a flat on Hartlebury Road in Oldbury at around 2:30pm yesterday afternoon where a 34-year-old man was threatening to harm himself with a knife.

“A number of specialist police resources - including negotiators and firearms officers - were at the scene in an attempt to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

“Officers forced their way into the flat just after 6.20pm and the man was taken to hospital.

“Our officers are well versed at managing situations like this.

"Public safety is our primary concern therefore Hartlebury Road was closed for a short time as a precaution.”