ARMED police descended on Wallasey after reports of an "erratic" man holding a woman hostage at knifepoint.

Officers arrived at the flat on Clarendon Road at around 12pm on Monday after a 27-year-old woman called to say her partner was acting aggressively towards her and refusing to let her leave.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "Officers tried to speak to the man but his behaviour became more erratic and he threatened to harm himself and the woman with a knife.

"Specialist officers were deployed and forced entry to resolve the situation as quicky and as safely as possible."

A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment and making threats to kill.

The 27-year-old woman was not injured but was left extremely upset and shaken. She was checked over by paramedics as a precaution.