A MAN sparked a siege lasting nearly four hours after barricading himself inside his bedroom and threatening to set himself on fire.

The 46-year-old father-of-three rang police and told them he had doused himself in white spirit and was about to set his house alight.

His wife and three children had left the semi-detached house earlier following a furious row and the man had been playing music loudly all day, neighbours said.

The call triggered a stand-off in Great Hall Close in Radcliffe where fire crews and paramedics were on standby while trained negotiators tried to persuade Mr White to give himself up.

Dozens of residents gathered behind a police cordon to watch after police were called at 5pm.

At around 7.30 pm police in riot gear accompanied a specialist negotiator into the house.

He eventually came out of the three-bedroomed detached house at 8.40pm - but not until officers had brought him a cigar and whisky which he had asked for.

Police said the man had been arrested on suspicion of threatening to commit criminal damage and he was due to be interviewed by police today.

Neighbours last night described the man as "the neighbour from hell" and said he had been involved in a number of arguments with residents on the street about loud music and parking since the family moved in two years ago.

One said: "His wife left the house with the children at about 3pm and then police began turning up."

The adjoining semi was evacuated during the incident.

A police spokesman said: "The situation was negotiated to a peaceful conclusion and a 46-year-old man has been arrested."