A MAN was arrested this morning after trashing a flat above shops in Greenmount.

Police were called to the Vernon Road shops in Holcombe Brook around 7.15am this morning, after a man began throwing household items at people from his first floor flat.

According to eyewitnesses, the 30-year-old had earlier been seen arguing with another man who parked his van outside the shops.

The argument had quickly escalated and the enraged man occupying the flat above Aspire Hair and Beauty began throwing things at the man in the street.

Shoppers described the man as being in a 'frightening rage', as he hurled abuse at the man and other passersby.

Police arrived on the scene around 7.30am and tried to calm the man down.

But an eyewitness said the man became more enraged at the attendance of the police officers.

She said: "He just lost the plot. We could hear loud music coming from the flat first thing this morning and then we heard shouting and banging coming from the flat.

"Then when the police showed up he went berzerk and started throwing things at them. It's like he was on drugs or something."

Responding to appeals from officers to calm down, the man began to throw furniture at his own windows from inside the flat, smashing the interior glazing and sending shattered glass down to the street.

Police equipped themselves with riot shields as the man continued to throw household items out of the windows.

Three additional police vehicles attended the scene and a number of officers entered the property wearing protective gear.

The man was restrained and led into the back of a police van around 7.45am.

A police spokesman said: "Shortly before 7.15am on Saturday, August 18, police were called to Vernon Road in Greenmount, Bury to a disturbance.

"Officers attended and found a man making threats and throwing items out of the first floor window.

"Police have arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of a public order offence."