Armed stand-off forcing Coventry businesses to close doors

Earlsdon Primary School has been closed since Monday because of the stand-off

A school remains closed, a library is given over to police use and businesses are shut as an armed stand-off continues into a fourth day.

A 41-year-old man barricaded himself in a flat in Coventry with his eight-year-old son on Sunday.

It is believed there are weapons in the property on Earlsdon Avenue North amid what police describe as a really sensitive policing operation.

Safety is the main concern, West Midlands Police said.

Residents said they had been getting calls from friends and family concerned for their welfare.

Stuart Taylor, who has a butcher's business on nearby Newcombe Road, said he had been forced to close his doors and was trying to get deliveries to his regular customers, with the assistance of the police.

He said, it is not the end of the world but he is worried about the impact on the community if the stand-off continues.

"It can't carry on like this," he said.

"Some people can't even get to their own houses and have been told to contact homeless shelter if they can't find somewhere to stay."

He also said he was concerned about the cost of the ongoing police operation.

One couple, who have lived in the area for more than 30 years, said normally things were quiet.

A woman, who did not give her name, said: "In the daytime it's like a village really, everybody knows each other.

"I'm in a book group in the library and we were due to meet tomorrow evening, but clearly the library is being used as a sort of rest station for the police."

Armed officers have been outside the property since Sunday

Supt Ronan Tyrer said the safety of all involved was of "prime importance"

West Midlands Police said armed response officers remained outside the property and specialist negotiators were continuing to speak to the man in an effort to bring the situation to a safe conclusion.

Supt Ronan Tyrer said on Wednesday: "I appreciate for residents, but for also the wider community, including those parents of children at Earlsdon Primary School, that it is incredibly frustrating.

"What I will say is that this is a really sensitive policing operation."

And he added: "We have to have the cordons in place and we are working incredibly hard to bring to a conclusion swiftly, but of prime importance safely, this incident."

He also said that while it was a "significant policing response" the operation had not affected "overall resourcing levels."