Watford town centre sealed off following bank bomb threat

Armed police surrounded a bank in Watford today after a man walked in and claimed to have a bomb.

Police said they were called to the Co-Op bank in Market Street at 10.18am after reports of a man threatening staff.

The centre of the town has been sealed off and armed units with negotiators have surrounded the bank.

Police said the man had made demands and threatened to explode the bomb if they were not met.

One report said the man claimed to have a bomb starpped to his leg.

Staff and customers in the bank have been evacuated and police said the man was on his own and "no members of the public are at direct risk."

A Herts police spokeswoman said : "Clearly, our objective is to resolve this situation as peaceably as possible and thank the public locally for their co-operation and understanding that this is a fast moving and complex situation."

She added that specialist teams, including armed units, were at the scene.