Neighbours threatened with gun in north Queensland stand-off

One man has been taken into custody while a second person is in a stand-off with authorities after reports of a man threatening neighbours with a firearm in Townsville in north Queensland.

Police were called just before 10am to the residence in the suburb of Garbutt, where an emergency was declared.

The declaration, under the Public Safety Preservation Act, was made about 11am.

An exclusion zone was set up, encompassing Clarke, Dearness, Douglas, Ramsay and Chandler streets.