A MAN is recovering in hospital after police shot him with a rubber bullet to stop him stabbing himself.

The shooting followed a tense scene outside Gosport police station at 5.20pm yesterday during which the man repeatedly threatened to harm himself with a kitchen knife which he held to his throat.

A sniper from the force's Tactical Firearms Team eventually discharged a single rubber round into the man's thigh when he began to plunge the blade into his neck.

He was then taken to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham where he received treatment for self-inflicted stab wounds to his neck and stomach. A police spokesman said the injuries were serious but not life-threatening. She added he was also receiving minor treatment for bruising caused by the rubber bullet.

Traffic in the South Street area ground to a halt during the incident.

The spokesman said: "The man armed with a knife who stood outside Gosport police station threatening to harm himself has now been subdued with a baton round.

"He was detained by officers from the Force Support Unit after he began to stab himself with a knife. A single baton round was discharged by an officer from the Tactical Firearms Team, which struck him on the right leg and was sufficient to subdue him.

"He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital at Cosham."