Victorian police arrest man armed with crossbow

A man armed with a loaded crossbow has kept police at bay for more than three hours in central Victoria.

Police began tracking the man through the Castlemaine central business district from about 4pm on Tuesday as he moved through the streets on foot and in a vehicle, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

The man was arrested and taken to hospital for assessment after police convinced him to enter the police station and lay down his weapon about 8pm.