Police Shoot Man In Seaford

A 62-year-old man is fighting for his life after trading shots with police in Seaford.

Armed officers were called to a house in North Way, Seaford, yesterday evening (Saturday) at 7pm after reports of a domestic incident involving a firearm. Shortly after they arrived a woman left the house safely.

Officers negotiated with a 62-year-old man for nearly six hours but early this morning at 1am he stormed out of the house and exchanged fire with police from the Surrey and Sussex Tactical Firemarms Unit.

The man appeared to be wounded, but went back inside. Police then entered the house and gave him first-aid. He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, with what are described as life-threatening injuries. He is currently in a stable but critical condition.

Neighbours were told to stay inside their home during the seige and a local school opened up to act as an emergency control centre. Police have told Heart a shotgun has been recovered from the scene.

Ch Insp Jayne Dando said: "I should like to thank the head teacher of a local school who opened up the building to act as a rendezvous point for emergency services and also to provide shelter to a few local residents who were returning home, but unable to gain access to their houses for a little while."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is heading the enquiry into the shooting.