Witnesses have described hearing gunshots as police swarmed through their neighbourhood before a man died during a confrontation with officers.

The man, believed to be in his 50s, shot himself during a stand-off in Wallington on Saturday night and later died in hospital.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the actions of police, who fired a Taser and plastic bullets during the confrontation in Bridge Road, following the man’s death.

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Officers were initially called to reports of an armed man threatening to harm himself at house in Melbourne Road at 8pm.

A man who lives in Bridge Road told the Sutton Guardian: "I saw these flashing lights outside and went outside, but was told to get back inside. They had closed off all the roads nearby.

"So like the nosey guy that I am I looked out the window and heard these three loud sounds, that sounded like gunshots.

"The old bill were everywhere, there must have been about 10 to 15 of them looking for him in the gardens nearby the house using guns with torches on them.

"Then he runs out from a hole in the fence from his back garden and bolts it up towards the bridge with his shotgun. He was pretty quick because he left the police in the dust.

"You heard them shouting after him and that must have been close to the time he shot himself."

Five police officers were seen next to a police cordon in Melbourne Road and officers with dogs were searching the area at 2pm today.

Carole Landers, of Melbourne Road, said: "I went to be at 10.30pm and saw these flashing lights.

"I looked out and saw police cars and armed police all over the place and a man standing in the middle of the road with a gun.”

A man who lives in Oxford Road said police told him to remain inside his house. He added: "It was only when I put the TV on mute that I heard anything.

"I went outside and looked over the fence and this man in full body armour shouted at me to get inside for my own safety.

"He had a big gun, so I wasn't going to argue with him."

The Metropolitan police said not all of the man’s next of kin had been informed of his death and that a post-mortem examination has yet to be carried out.