A MALICIOUS call triggered a massive police operation where armed officers surrounded a Gwent house yesterday.

Around 40 police officers were involved in the operation, including six armed officers and a dog unit.

Police closed the B4239 coast road between the Six Bells pub, Green Lane and Sluice Gate Farm and cordoned off a large area around a large private house in Broadstreet Common, Peterstone, while they investigated a malicious hoax call which they said "gave them concern for public safety".

Investigations into who made the call are still ongoing.

Police confirmed today they received a call at 2.30am from a member of the public, which led them to believe the occupants of the house were in danger.

They launched an operation at the scene, trying to establish if the danger hinted at in the phone call was real.

But by midday, after more than nine hours of investigation, police said they were satisfied there was no danger to the public and the police cordon surrounding the area was removed.

A police presence remained at the scene throughout the afternoon, while CID officers and uniformed police interviewed the occupants of the house.

A police spokeswoman said: "No one was arrested and enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the initial call."

They were unable to reveal the details of the initial call, in case it jeopardised their investigation to catch the culprit.

Today, there was no longer any police presence at the address and a woman speaking over an intercom from the house told our reporter: "Nothing happened."

The mystery property is manned with CCTV cameras and a guard dog.