DETECTIVES are questioning a man believed to be at the centre of a four-hour armed siege during which he barricaded himself in a shed with a chainsaw. The dramatic scene unfolded yesterday morning after officers tried to arrest father-of-three Phil Jacomb for an alleged driving offence.

DETECTIVES are questioning a man believed to be at the centre of a four-hour armed siege during which he barricaded himself in a shed with a chainsaw.

The dramatic scene unfolded yesterday morning after officers tried to arrest father-of-three Phil Jacomb for an alleged driving offence.

The 49-year-old locked himself inside a portable cabin and began a stand-off with officers outside his firm, Access Hire, on the Rougham Industrial Estate, near Bury St Edmunds.

Suffolk police last night confirmed Mr Jacomb, who was eventually coaxed out of the hut by specialist negotiators at 1.30pm, was being detained at Bury police station for questioning.

Friends of Mr Jacomb - who is a motorbike enthusiast and regularly attends rallies - spoke of their shock at the incident, which they said was completely out of character.

“Phil is a really good bloke, a nice guy, and someone I can have a laugh with,” said Trevor Burroughs, who witnessed the drama from his nearby place of work.

“He had a bad motorcycle accident last August, when he suffered a serious head injury, and he has been a bit different since then. But he has always been carefree and just enjoys life.

“He is a really clever bloke, and a brilliant engineer. He is a family man, and will do anything to help someone out.”

Police cordoned off part of the busy industrial estate, just off the A14, and called for back-up from armed officers who surrounded Mr Jacomb's portable cabin, which contains chairs and a television and is normally used for tea-breaks.

An ambulance was also put on standby at the scene, although no one was hurt.

Mr Jacomb's wife, Barbara, arrived shortly after the incident unfolded, and was interviewed by officers.

Another witness said: “The police turned up, and they told everyone to move out of the way.

“We had no idea what was going on at first, but the officers were all over the place. He is a nice guy, and just doesn't seem the type of person to do something like this. It is a real shock.”

Mr Jacomb, from Hessett, near Bury, eventually walked unaided out of the cabin. He was told to lie on the ground whilst officers searched him, before putting him into a police van.

A police spokeswoman confirmed a 49-year-old man had been arrested for an offence involving a disqualification from driving, although she said it is unknown what charges, if any, will relate to yesterday's incident.