A man has been shot dead by police after a stand-off at a property in Britain.

Cambridgeshire Police said it received a call at 7.45pm on Wednesday, reporting concerns for the safety of people in a property in Duck Lane in St Neots.

Officers attended the scene and at just after 8pm a man was shot by a firearms officer. The man, believed to be in his 40s, died at the scene.

No one else was injured in the incident.

The case has been referred to the UK Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which has launched an investigation.

A spokesman said the IPCC was contacted by Cambridgeshire Police on Wednesday night and declared an independent investigation at about 9.30pm.

He added: "The man's next of kin have been informed of his death and the area will remain cordoned off for some time whilst IPCC investigators undertake the scene management process".

"The investigation is in the very early stages and we are unable to provide further details at this time".