A man suspected of a double stabbing has been shot by armed police in Merseyside.

Officers were called to a report that a man and a woman had been stabbed in the Tobruk Road area of Huyton, near Liverpool, at 4.25pm on Wednesday, Merseyside police said.

Armed response officers attended and the suspect was shot by officers and has been taken to hospital for treatment, the force added.

The man and woman who were assaulted have also been taken to hospital where their condition is described as serious but stable, officers said.

Police said an investigation is under way to establish the circumstances of the incident in Knowsley and the road was cordoned off.

Officers remained at the scene and were carrying out house-to-house and CCTV inquiries.

The force said it has notified the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is standard procedure in these circumstances, and added the watchdog has begun its independent investigation.

Colin Hardy, 54, who said he lived about 100 yards away from the incident, heard “lots of screaming and shouting” and the sound of gunshots.

“It went quiet for a while then the police helicopter came over and I could hear police telling people to get back in their houses,” he said.

“I heard what I thought was gunfire and just afterwards four conservative shots then I couldn’t hear anything else because of the helicopter.”

A resident of Derna Road, which connects to Tobruk Road, said she heard a “commotion” on her street.

Kelly Tumbare, 36, said she felt “really shocked” after seeing police arrive.

“I just heard police sirens, so I went out in the street,” she said.

“There were about eight police cars and lots of commotion in the street with neighbours and a very strong police presence.

“Some officers were taping up access to the street and public footpath. One neighbour had been told someone had been stabbed.”

Tumbare said she saw an air ambulance and police helicopter land close to the incident and added that a police officer told residents in Derna Road to remain indoors.

Det Supt Paul Speight said: “I know that people who live in this area of Huyton and the wider communities of Merseyside will be shocked by this incident.

“We are still in the very early stages of investigating and part of our initial inquiries will be to establish the full circumstances of what happened.

“In the meantime, I want to reassure the public that Merseyside police is committed to keeping our communities safe and we take all reports of incidents involving weapons extremely seriously.

“This was an isolated incident and we are not looking for anyone else. All three people have been taken to hospital to be assessed for their various injuries.

“The IOPC will now conduct an independent investigation and we will be co-operating fully with their investigation in the coming days and weeks.”

An IOPC spokesperson said: “We have begun an investigation into an incident where a person has been shot by Merseyside police in Huyton.”