A man who was thought to have a knife has been shot by police in Britain after officers failed to subdue him with a stun gun.

The man has been taken to hospital following the incident in Brent, northwest London, in which a Taser was discharged twice.

Officers were called to Kilburn Lane at around 2.45am and found the man, who was believed to have a knife.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Officers discharged Taser but with no apparent effect on the man".

"Firearms officers attended in support of local officers and Taser was discharged, again with no apparent effect".

"The man was then shot by police".

Nobody else was hurt in the incident and the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards has been told.