The heavy police presence spotted on Salisbury Road on Andover last night was responding to a ‘concern for welfare’ of a 50-year-old man, police have confirmed.

Speaking to the Advertiser, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “We were called at 3.41pm yesterday, 18 August, by our colleagues in the ambulance service to reports of a concern for welfare for a 50-year-old man at an address on Yew Tree Road, Andover.

“Officers on scene spent approximately four hours engaging with the man before forcing entry to the property.

“This incident was resolved, and the man taken to hospital to receive the appropriate care.”

South Central Ambulance Service also confirmed that they had attended the ‘medical emergency’.

A SCAS spokesperson added: “We were called at 16:58 to Andover to a medical emergency. We sent to the scene one ambulance crew and one patient was taken to Royal Hampshire County Hospital.”

It comes after at least eight police vehicles and an ambulance descended on the residential area last night, with officers in riot gear and carrying a battering ram witnessed by nearby residents.