TWO firearms were recovered after police arrested a man following the 12-hour siege in Kidlington, it was confirmed yesterday.

Further details – including that the man had not surrendered to police – have emerged about Tuesday’s stand-off in Morton Avenue with the 38-year-old.

Last night he remained in police custody after a superintendent approved holding him for an additional 12 hours because detectives could not begin interviewing him until yesterday afternoon.

The man was arrested after a 12-hour siege in that began at about 3.40am on Tuesday. His estranged partner, who the Oxford Mail is not naming, had fled the home she shared with the couple’s two-year-old twin daughters.

The man initially held the two girls in the home, but released one at about 9.45am and the other just after 11.30am.

He was tasered and arrested at 3.37pm inside the property after hours of negotiations.

Police spokesman Chris Kearney confirmed all the negotiations had been carried out by trained staff over the telephone, rather than face to face.

He said he was unable to detail how or why police finally made the arrest, but added: “Officers executed the arrest when the earliest opportunity presented itself and there was minimal risk posed to officers, the suspect and the wider community.

“Given the intelligence around the presence of firearms inside the property, this made this incident more protracted.”

Mr Kearney said he could confirm the girls had been released voluntarily by the man and at no time were any threats made against them.

Asked when the man had first gone to the flat, he said: “We are still confirming those details with the victim.

“The girls and their mother are now in a place of safety, recovering from this ordeal.”

Two firearms were found inside the flat but police would not say what type they were.

The original cordon was extended during the stand-off and Mr Kearney said: “There was information from the scene suggesting gunshot sounds were heard and, given the intelligence, we decided to increase the size of the cordon.”

More than 40 police were involved in the siege, including at least 16 officers with firearms, and yesterday neighbours praised their actions.

Morton Avenue resident Peter Dooley, 62, said he was “stuck” in his house all day: “It’s worrying when you see armed police on the road, but at the end of the day the police were very good.

“There is a strong community all down this road. I have lived here for 27 years and have never seen anything like this before.”

Neighbour Natalie Parsons, 38, said: “I was in my house with my baby but I didn’t feel scared as there were so many police outside.”