A man - holding a box of matches - threatened to blow himself up after flooding his flat with gas.
Police were called to St Ann's Road, Southend, to find the street stinking of gas and a man inside a ground floor flat holding a knife to his throat.
Residents upstairs were evacuated along with next-door neighbours. Others were told to remain indoors as the area was cordoned off just after 4.15pm yesterday.
Firefighters and an ambulance crew were on stand-by in case the man, believed to be in his 30s, carried out his threat.
Insp Bill Coady said: "There was the potential for a severe gas explosion"
Four officers initially attended followed by the inspector who called for two police negotiators.
Fire-fighters cut off the gas supply to the property from the outside to prevent the premises becoming more flooded with gas.
Insp Coady said: "The negotiators talked to him and managed to coax him out. In the end he came quietly and was as good as gold. He was taken to Runwell Hospital."
The incident ended at about 6pm.
Published Tuesday, June 24, 2003
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