Security forces respond to reports of gunfire at Ivory Coast beach

Witnesses say gunfire has been heard in a beach resort town in Ivory Coast.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said officials were "urgently" trying to establish whether any British nationals had been caught up in the incident.

The shots are said to have rang out on Sunday afternoon in Grand-Bassam, a popular weekend destination for both Ivorian nationals and foreigners.

Josiane Sekongo, 25, who lives across from one of the town's many beachfront hotels, said she ran outside when she heard gunshots and saw people running away from the beach.

She said residents were hiding in their homes as security forces responded.

The beach setting of the incident bears a resemblance to the attack in the Tunisian resort of Sousse last June in which 30 Britons were among 38 tourists killed.