A woman remains in a serious condition in hospital this morning after reports she was held hostage in her home where she suffered gunshot wound.

People living in the Priory Road area of Dartford say they heard gunshots after armed officers stormed into a house in the road yesterday.

Officers were called to the address at about 12.40pm along with a trained negotiator following reports of a "disturbance" and attempted to engage with a man inside the address.

A woman and a man at the address suffered serious injuries which police have confirmed are consistent with gunshot wounds.

Both were taken to a London hospital yesterday evening where they remain in a serious condition.

Neighbours said police cordoned off the road and ordered them to stay inside their homes before they entered the property.

Witnesses said after a stand-off which lasted about an hour "pandemonium" broke out and neighbours heard what they thought were two rounds of gunshots.

The house remained cordoned-off yesterday evening and forensics teams were seen going inside.

A spokesman for the force said: "Kent Police was called to a report of a disturbance at a property in Priory Road, Dartford at 12.40pm on Saturday 6 May 2023.

“Officers, along with a trained police negotiator, attended and attempted to engage with a man inside the address.

“Whilst they were at the scene, a man and a woman suffered serious injuries consistent with gunshot wounds and were taken to a London hospital where they remain in a serious condition.

“Police are treating this as an isolated incident and are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.

“Patrols remain in the area and inquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances and how the injuries were sustained.”

Neighbours said the woman had been "held hostage" by a man at the back of the property.

One woman, who wished not to be named, said it was “chilling".

She said: "I was in the house and my husband and two girls were out - they couldn't get back home. I went out and was told 'get back - you must stay indoors'.

"I went to the garden where I could see more."

About an hour after police entered the property, she said she heard gunshots before a person was carried out on a stretcher.

"It was pandemonium", she said. "I heard five gunshots - a pause and then another five."

Another man who lived in the next street also said he heard the gunshots.

Kent Police has now referred the matter to the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct), for further investigations as officers were at the scene at the time of injuries however no police weapons were discharged.

A spokesman for the IOPC said: “We have received a referral from Kent Police and we are assessing the available information to decide whether any further action is required.”