The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is launching an investigation after a man was shot by a police officer in south Wales last night.

Gwent police said that firearms officers and negotiators were called to a house at Moor View in Rassau, Ebbw Vale, at around 22:00 BST, following reports that a man was armed with a firearm.

A 56-year-old local man, who was armed, was subsequently shot after a police officer fired a single shot at around 23:10 BST, the IPCC has confirmed.

Police said that he was shot in the stomach.

The man was taken to Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, where he is said to be in a critical condition after undergoing surgery.

A spokeswoman for Gwent police confirmed that no-one else had been injured in the incident and said that the shooting had been referred to the IPCC in accordance with standard procedure.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting have yet to be revealed, but IPCC commissioner John Crawley said the independent body intended to carry out a "thorough" investigation into the incident.

"This is a serious incident and we will conduct a thorough and comprehensive independent investigation into the circumstances of this shooting," he said.

"We will put further factual information as soon as we have verified it - in the meantime speculation is not helpful," he added.

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