Blackpool Halifax bank stand off: A timeline of how the tense 12-hour stand off between pensioner and police unfolded

The man has been detained under the Mental Health Act after handing himself in at around 2am, following the volatile stand-off at the Halifax bank in Church Street.

This is how the events unfolded...

2.05pm, Monday - An elderly gentleman on a Kymco mobility scooter rode into the Halifax bank in Church Street and reportedly began arguing with a member of staff.

2.10pm - Staff and customers urgently call 999 after the man, who is described as frail, gets off his mobility scooter and walks around the bank with a walking stick whilst pouring petrol from a fuel can.

Eyewitness Cheryl Daniels, 53, described the scene. She said: "He was angry and had got off his scooter with a fuel can. He had been arguing with people and was red in the face with anger.

"When he poured the petrol lots of people started running and I got out of the way. It was really scary because he had a fuel can but at the same time because he was that frail you wouldn't imagine him doing what he did."

Darren Harrison, 35, added: "The guy looked at least in his 80s and quite frail. He had a flat cap on and he wasn't easy on his feet.

"It was quite surreal seeing someone of that age doing something so serious. He was asking for his money and getting quite angry with staff.

"Everyone ran and the police were here in minutes and a cordon was set up."

2.13pm - The man allegedly threatens to light the fuel, prompting police and fire crews to flood Church Street. A a cordon is quickly put in place and the public are told to leave the area immediately. There are reports that the man has also poured petrol on a member of staff.

Two fire engines from Blackpool and another from Bispham attend on standby to help police.

2.20pm - Tact Ops officers with firearms are mobilised and are brought into position outside the bank.

2.25pm - Bank staff exit the building unharmed. Lancashire Police later say the incident was not a hostage situation, despite speculation on social media suggesting that a member of staff had been doused in petrol whilst others were held inside.

2.45pm - Nearby buildings are evacuated and Cadent and North West Electricity engineers are called to the area to switch off the gas supply.

3pm - Police extend the cordon to Cedar Square as specialist negotiators are brought to the scene to speak with the man.

5.30pm - A Salvation Army foodtruck arrives to provide food for police and emergency workers who remain patiently stationed outside the bank's entrance.

6pm - 1am - Negotiators continue to speak with the man who refuses to leave the bank or surrender himself to police. Around 12 armed officers in riot gear remain stationed outside the bank as negotiations continue.

2am, Tuesday - The elderly man signals to police that he is ready to give himself up and armed officers swoop on the bank.

2.15am - The man is detained and taken into police custody, where he is being held under the Mental Health Act.

5.10am - Lancashire Police release a statement saying that the stand-off has concluded and a man, aged 80, has handed himself in.

8am - Pictures taken in the aftermath of the stand-off show a mobility scooter inside the bank building, with overturned tables visible in the back office.

9am - Lancashire Police confirm to the Gazette that no-one has been injured and none of the bank staff or its customers were held hostage.

10am - Church Street reopens, but a cordon remains in place between Adelphi Street and Coronation Street whilst Halifax bank remains closed for investigation.