Armed siege after gunman reports

Armed police have surrounded a flat in Herefordshire after receiving reports of a man carrying a gun.

A woman, thought to be the man's girlfriend, emerged from the property in Ross on Wye unharmed at 1249 GMT.

The man is still inside the flat, and trained police negotiators are at the scene in River View, off Brampton Road, trying to resolve the stand-off.

The area has been sealed off and neighbours are not being allowed into their homes until it is deemed safe.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said the woman, believed to be in her 20s, had spoken to officers but had not told them of seeing any firearms herself.

He said officers were involved in a "low-key" operation to try to encourage the man to come out peacefully.

Police were first called at 1024 GMT.