RESIDENTS living in Paradise Square have begun returning home after yesterday's shootout.

A police cordon was lifted in the early hours of the morning allowing people access to their homes for the first time in more than 24 hours.

A police forensics team has also arrived on the site of the armed stand-off which saw shots fired from inside a property.

Residents have told the Oxford Mail of their confusion and fear after the events.

Oxford Mail:

A 33-year-old, who lives on the street and asked not to be named, said he and his four children had spent the night at the Pear Tree Travelodge Hotel.

He had been in his house when he heard five shots fired but it wasn't until 9pm when he went outside that an armed officer told him he had to leave.

Later his family was taken to the St Aldates Police Station while council staff sorted out accommodation.

The man said his children had struggled to sleep and he had been forced to leave without his wallet or any baby milk for his seven-week-old son. He commended the emergency services for their work to ensure his family was kept safe and secure.

Another resident was returning home after being left stranded at work.

He told the Oxford Mail that he had begun receiving texts from friends yesterday afternoon that something 'major' was happening on his street.

He called police and was told he wouldn't be able to go home so he spent the night at work.

Arriving back to the scene, he said: "It's certainly left me very worried.

"I'm new to Oxford and never expected anything like this to happen here, it's very strange.

"It was very scary but mainly because I did not know what was happening."