A man armed with a crossbow has died from self-inflicted injuries after a stand-off with police at a burning pub.

Police responded to calls for a welfare check on a man at the Chequers Inn in Wootton at 10.15am on Friday (September 19).

Shortly after emergency services arrived, the blaze broke out and police soon discovered that the so far unidentified man was armed with a crossbow.

Locals reported an explosion ‘shaking the tiles off the roof’ of the 400-year-old pub.

Police said: ‘Extensive efforts were made to ensure the safety of all at the scene.’

Specialist officers, including negotiators, were sent in an attempt to defuse the situation.

But when the man left the building at 12.45pm he had sustained self-inflicted injuries and was rushed to hospital.

He died there on Sunday.

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