A man who was holding a woman hostage has been taken to hospital after being shot by police during a siege at a house in Liverpool.

Officers were called to a property in the Dovecot area of the city, at 7am on Thursday after reports that a woman was being held hostage by a man known to her who was believed to be armed with a knife and a gun, Merseyside police said.

A spokesman said: "Patrols attended and an armed containment was put in place whilst officers attempted to engage with the man inside the house.

"A decision was made to enter the property and officers facilitated entry using distraction devices and the male was subsequently shot by police. He sustained an injury to his upper body." The 43-year-old man was taken to Royal Liverpool hospital, where his condition was described as serious but stable. The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was taken to a police station. Two children, aged seven and eleven, had managed to leave the property prior to the arrival of the police and were said to be safe and well. Officers recovered a firearm and knives from the property, police said.

The incident was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which has declared an independent investigation into the police shooting. IPCC investigators were at the scene, which remains cordoned off as officers search the property.

A spokeswoman for the north-west ambulance service said: "We can confirm that we did take a male to Royal Liverpool hospital with chest injuries. He was conscious and breathing."

Merseyside police said an incident had taken place in Dovecot but only confirmed that no officers were injured.

A resident of a neighbouring property, who did not want to be named, told the Liverpool Echo that armed police had gone through his house into the garden. "I've heard there was a man inside a house holding a gun. At about 8.40am I heard gunshots. There were a good few shots, there must have been at least 10."