A woman has died after she was shot in her own home.

Police officers were called to a disturbance at a property in Priory Road, Dartford, on Saturday (May 6) afternoon.

They attended alongside a trained police negotiator and attempted to engage with a man inside the address.

Firearms officers were also present and whilst they were at the scene, a 36-year-old woman suffered injuries believed to have been caused by a handgun.

She was taken to a London hospital but died from her injuries yesterday (May 8) evening.

The man, 29, was also taken to hospital with a gunshot injury where he remains in a critical condition.

He is being treated as the suspect and a murder investigation is now being led by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

People living in the area said they heard gunshots after armed officers stormed into a house in the road this weekend.

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

Witnesses said after a stand-off which lasted about an hour "pandemonium" broke out and 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 added: "I was in the house and my husband and two girls were out - they could not get back home. I went out and was told 'get back - you must stay indoors'.

"It was pandemoniun. I heard five gunshots - a pause and then another five."

Kent Police referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), 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.”

Anyone with information which may assist the investigation should call police on 01474 366149, quoting reference 46/80922/23.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 5551111 or by using the online form on their website.