ARMED police tasered a man in Ledbury after officers believed they were being threatened with a firearm.

It is probably only the second time that a taser has been used by officers in Ledbury, according to police.

A West Mercia Police press spokesman said that records on taser use were not available prior to 2013, but added that a taser had been used in Ledbury, in April 2014.

A taser is an electroshock weapon that fires two small dart-like electrodes, which stay connected to the main unit by conductors.

It delivers an electrical current and anyone struck by a taser suffers strong involuntary muscle contractions. It incapacities the person and, in rare circumstances, can cause death through cardiac arrest.

The gun-like taser device was used in Ledbury on Monday, February 23, shortly before 10pm, at Katherine's Walk, close to Martins Way, on the Deer Park estate.

A West Mercia police spokesperson said: "Officers were called to Katherine's Walk following reports of a disturbance.

"A man in his thirties threatened a police officer with what is believed to be a firearm and a taser device was deployed."

The man has subsequently been named by police as Kyle Robinson, aged 33, of Biddulph Way, the Deer Park estate.

A police spokesman said he had been "charged with using threatening or abusive behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence, and of using threatening or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress".

He has been bailed until March 11, when he will appear at Hereford Magistrates Court.

Town councillor, Tony Bradford, who lives on the Deer Park estate, said the incident was of great concern to local residents, because of the high number of police and the lack of information at the time.

"We need to know what's going on," he said. "Residents are very concerned."

Cllr Bradford said that up to seven police vehicles attended the incident.

A police spokesman said: "There were around six police officers at the incident. We are unsure of the specific number of vehicles."

"The taser was deployed at 9.40pm, and the man did not require medical attention."