POLICE spent a tense 90 minutes trying to talk an armed man out of setting himself on fire outside a country pub yesterday.

More than 30 officers were called to the Lamb and Flag Inn, in Faringdon Road, Longworth, after reports that a man armed with two carving knives had doused himself in lighter fuel after a domestic dispute.

They were told that an inflammable liquid had been sprayed around the outside of the pub building - and two propane gas cylinders were nearby.

Police evacuated customers still inside the pub before locking the building and closing nearby roads.

At one stage, a section of the nearby A420 was shut, causing traffic chaos.

Fire and ambulance officers were put on standby while trained police negotiators tried to calm the man down.

Pc Paul Langford said: "Officers in protective clothing and with shields were called to the scene as a precaution.

"It seemed to be some sort of domestic dispute involving someone who seemed to have a grudge against the pub."

He added: "We had reports that he had poured lighter fuel all around the building, and he had two carving knives, matches and lighter fuel in his possession.

He was close to two propane cylinders so we couldn't take any chances."

The pub was re-opened to customers last night.

A man was being questioned about the incident at Didcot Police Station today.

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