Man charged after six-hour armed stand-off with police in Eastbourne

A retired man who was involved in a six-hour armed stand-off with police in a quiet seaside town has been charged with attempted murder.

Paul Allwright, 62, of North Way, Seaford, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, has also been charged with possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life.

Gunfire was exchanged in the street in the early hours of September 16 after police were called to a report of a domestic incident involving firearms just after 7pm the previous evening.

A woman left the house safely a short time later and negotiators were drafted in before shots were fired just after 1am.

Allwright was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton after he was shot a total of three times by police - twice in the torso and once in the leg.

Sussex Police said he was arrested on Wednesday following his release from hospital and will appear at Brighton Magistrates' Court today.

The case was referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is carrying out an inquiry into the police's use of firearms during the incident.

PA