Special door breaching ‘Hatton rounds’ were fired at a van being driven by an armed robbery suspect in High Street, Wanstead, this morning.

Armed police swooped on a white van driving on Wanstead High Street at around 9am this morning.

Eye witnesses reported that shots had been fired, but police initially denied that any guns had been used.

However, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “A man in his 30s has been arrested and remains in custody.

“Hatton rounds were used to disable a white van at the scene.”

Hatton rounds are non-live rounds made of a wax compound and are used by police to breach doors.