NEIGHBOURS were evacuated to a local sports centre during a six hour siege

which saw a man threaten to blow up his mother's Blackpool home.

The man, who was arrested after the siege ended at around 3am, is said to

have told police he was switching on gas appliances in order to cause an

explosion.

He also held his mother hostage at the house on Collingwood Avenue, said

police, though she was later released unharmed.

The man gave himself up and is expected to be questioned later this morning.