A man is due in court today after a 20-hour stand-off with police on a canal boat in Nantwich.
The drama began at 2am on Friday (August 1) and forced police to close the canal and towpath until an arrest was made just before 10pm that day.
It caused a tailback of dozens of narrow boats on the Shropshire Union Canal, many arriving to take part in the Floating Market event over the weekend.
A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: “At 2.06am on Friday 1 August Police were called to a canal boat on the Shropshire Union Canal in Nantwich following reports of concern for welfare of a man on the boat who had called a crisis line.
“Police supported by firearms officers attended and specially trained officers negotiated with the man.
“He came off the boat at 9.52pm and was arrested.
“A search was made of the boat and there were no firearms or weapons on board.”
Many narrow boat owners were evacuated from the area during the incident, which was attended to by armed police, fire crews, police diver teams and paramedics.
One narrow boat owner said: “We found out after 15 hours evacuation via Facebook that we were allowed back to our homes after camping out in borrows blankets on the towpath.
“Just thankful that the rest of the boating community came together to look after us.”
John Clements, 42, from Chester, has been charged with sending communication threatening death or serious harm, and affray.
He is due to appear at Chester Magistrates today (Monday August 4).
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