A Hull Daily Mail reporter helped bring an armed siege to a peaceful end after a man armed with a knife barricaded himself into a house and refused to come out until he had spoken to a journalist.

Police asked the paper for help after a man refused to leave his family home unless he was allowed to air his grievances to a Mail reporter.

Journalist Harriet Jones, (30), was sent to the scene and asked by officers to act as 'bait' as part of the police operation to bring him out of the house.

She was told the man, who is sectioned under the Mental Health Act, was volatile and a danger to himself and if the siege was brought to a successful end, she would have to interview him, as agreed, before he was placed in the care of health professionals.

Two trained negotiators tried to persuade him to come out of the house to speak to Harriet, but he repeatedly told police he did not believe the reporter was present.

Harriet gave officers her press card and a business card to help them persuade him she was at the scene and 50 minutes after she arrived police used house keys to open the door to the house.

She said: "I told him I was not there to trick him and I could only interview him if he came out of the house."

After dropping the knife and being searched, the man was taken to a police van where Harriet interviewed him for 15 minutes, watched by two officers.

She said afterwards: "At one point it did flash through my mind that everyone apart from me and the photographer had stab vests and riot shields, while I was there in my flip flops and cardigan.

"But I didn't really think about what I was doing, it was just an incredible opportunity to see professional police negotiators at work.

"I am glad the Mail was able to help the police ensure the man receives the care he deserves."