Police at the scene in Elsinore Road, Forest Hill, where a man was shot by police

A young man was in a critical condition in hospital after being shot by police.

Armed officers were sent to the scene in Forest Hill, south London, after the man, in his early 20s, threatened local police with “a large bladed weapon”.

Scotland Yard said he was in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital.

This morning (Monday) it was reported that police shall meet residents to reassure them about what happened.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched an investigation.

Police were called at around 5.40am on Saturday to reports of a man attempting to break into a car in Elsinore Road, the Metropolitan Police said.

A spokesman said: “Local officers attended and attempted to approach the man, who then threatened them with a large bladed weapon.

“The officers retreated and called for further units to assist including firearms officers.

“The man then approached officers on Stanstead Road, threatening them with the weapon.”

The firearms officers deployed both Tasers and firearms and the man received gunshot wounds.

“London Ambulance Service attended and took the man to a south London hospital. He is critical but stable,” the spokesman added.

“We can confirm a number of knives have been recovered from the scene.”

Roads were closed in the area.

An IPCC spokesman said the man, in his early 20s, originally from Ghana but now from Forest Hill, was being treated at Kings College Hospital in the capital.

“The IPCC have deployed its on-call team and has decided this incident should be investigated independently,” the spokesman said.

IPCC commissioner Mike Franklin added: “This young man is receiving medical attention and his condition is described as critical.

“His family have been informed and have been taken to the hospital by the police so that they can be close to him.

“The IPCC investigation will be carried out by our own investigators and will look at the circumstances leading up to this shooting.”