Man shot dead by police after 'claiming to have firearm'

A man has been shot dead by police after claiming he had a firearm.

Armed officers attended the scene in Collier Row in Romford, east London, in the early hours of Monday.

Scotland Yard said it was called at 3.50am by a man making threats and claiming he was in possession of a firearm.

At around 4.45am a man believed to be in his 40s was shot by police near Collier Row Road and Lodge Lane.

He was pronounced dead at the scene about half an hour later .

The Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed and a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.