Armed police surrounded a flat in Salford tonight following reports of an intruder.
Greater Manchester Police said they were called to the address on Bury Old Road at around 5.50pm to reports of 'persons breaking into a property.'
An eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said the incident prompted a major police response with a number of patrol vehicles and Tactical Aid Units.
"I saw the blue lights and at first I thought it must have been ambulances," the witness said.
"But then I heard someone start yelling 'come out with your hands up!' and 'there are armed police outside'.
"So then I thought I'd better have a look and they seemed to be around a block of flats.
"The officers all had their faces covered. "
"One of them goes to the back of his car, opens up the boot and unloads this huge automatic gun like they use at the airport, and a bullet proof shield.
"The other officers also then did that in turn.
"I didn't hear anything or anyone and then around an hour later they just drove off."
There were no reports of anyone injured.
A GMP spokesperson said: "At approximately 5:50 pm today officers attended to a report of persons breaking into a property at an address in Bury Old Road Salford.
"Following police attendance, there were no offenders seen. "
