ARMED police with guns and riot shields confronted a man hurling objects out of a window during a foul-mouthed disturbance in a city street.

Southfield Street in the Arboretum in Worcester had to be closed during the incident with residents told to stay indoors and others unable to return to their homes.

A police cordon covered both ends of the street and East Street as people were warned to stay indoors for their own safety.

READ MORE: Live reports as armed police swoop on the Arboretum 

READ MORE: Latest on flooding in Worcester 

Various projectiles including pieces of wood, furniture and bottles were thrown from a house into the street, leaving the road littered with debris as more than 15 officers surrounded the property this morning.

Worcester News: ABUSE: Topless man shouts abuse at officers in Southfield Street ABUSE: Topless man shouts abuse at officers in Southfield Street (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Many officers had full protective gear on including helmets, body armour, assault rifles and riot shields while others manned the cordon to protect the public and preserve evidence. 

During the incident, a topless man could be seen leaning out of the window of the terraced house as objects - and obscenities - were hurled at officers.

The shirtless man in the window made derogatory references to officers and animal sounds. 

He asked officers to 'storm the building' and said 'open the door and see what happens' and 'I know my rights'.

The sound of breaking glass could be heard and objects could be seen being thrown out of the window into the main street, including pieces of wood and furniture.

One resident, who did not wish to be identified, said his daughter, ten, had been a little scared and had not seen anything horrible like this before.

"She was a little bit scared this morning - she is now at school. It all started really early in the morning when everything was being thrown into the street" he said.

Unable to return to his home near the disturbance, he said his wife tried to leave but was told to remain indoors by officers.

He said the windows of a white car were broken with a bottle.

A man was led away in handcuffs. Fire officers and an ambulance attended the scene.