Armed police stormed a north Springfield house and zapped a man with a Taser after reports he had attacked a Health worker with a carving knife in the third unprovoked attack of its kind in the borough in six months. The 54-year-old had barricaded himself into his house in Primula Way for nearly three hours on Friday before police burst into his home and stunned him with a burst of electricity. He was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

This latest incident comes after another man was sectioned in July when he attacked children and parents with two large kitchen knives as they walked home from school through the Westlands area. Then in October a man killed himself minutes after bludgeoning a South Woodham Ferrers pensioner in a frenzied attack.

A spokesperson for the North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust said: "Essex Police work closely with mental health professionals to manage public safety in the community. Community mental health teams continuously monitor the health and well being of the very small minority of individuals whose background or condition mean they may display potentially high risk behaviour."

Essex Police say the man had reportedly slashed the woman health worker's coat with the knife, before locking himself alone inside his home in the sleepy residential street. Officers eventually stormed the back door at 3pm setting off loud distraction devices as they broke in.

A spokeswoman said: "When police entered they saw the man carrying a knife in each hand. The Taser was fired towards his chest area and he was temporarily incapacitated.

"It is the first time we have used the Taser and we are pleased it offers armed police something less lethal to use, which does not have a permanent effect."

Essex Ambulance Service said ambulance staff examined the man at the scene and used an electrocardiogram to check his heart.

A police spokesman said a man had been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and later sectioned. He is on police bail until January 18.

Nearby residents say the man was well known in the area. Neighbour Stuart Coates said: "When the police came they tried to get in with their big shields and once they were inside they used what sounded like stun grenades to get him out. It all happened very quickly."

Another resident said: "I heard what sounded like gun shots, two loads of them in quick succession. The police kept shouting 'Come out!' but he didn't come. Then I heard a window smash and a short while later he came out in handcuffs.

"I don't think he leaves his house very much, so I don't know if anybody has really seen him."