The White House was temporarily put on lockdown after a gunshots were reported at Capitol Hill - but reports that someone had tried to gain entry to the building were "incorrect", a US Secret Service spokesman has said.

Tourists were cleared from the area and workers were ordered to "shelter in place" after shots were fired.

NBC Washington reported that a man had been entering the US Capitol Visitor Center when the metal detector went off. He then pulled out a gun, which had set the alarm off, and an officer shot him.

He was then transported to hospital under police escort.

Initial reports suggested an officer had been shot, but this is now said to have been incorrect. Another man was injured by "flying debris".