Police in Britain have shot dead a man who they say was threatening a woman with a knife in north London. Officers believe the pair knew each other.

A negotiator was called to the scene in Islington overnight, before several shots were fired.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said the woman was unharmed and is being treated for shock.

Rosa Whiteread, 28, a primary school teacher who lives in the street, said: "I was asleep and I heard shouting - it woke me up. It must have been around 12.30 at night.

"I looked out of the window and I saw lots of police, there must have been around a dozen of them. I asked them what was going on, but they said they couldn't tell me.

"I'm not sure if the police were armed, but I saw a police dog. It's shocking."