A man armed with a crossbow has taken a woman hostage in a house, STV News understands.

Riot police have been called to Morris Crescent in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire.

A police helicopter was also called shortly after 11am on Tuesday.

It is understood initial calls to the emergency services said a woman was being held in the house.

Pupils at Calderside Academy and Auchinraith Primary School have been kept indoors.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Officers are currently dealing with an incident in Morris Crescent, Blantyre, where a man is within a house in possession of a crossbow.

"Firearms officers, negotiators and uniformed officers are currently at the scene dealing with the incident and a cordon has been put in place as a precaution."

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We dispatched one ambulance and our special operations response team to a rendezvous point at Victoria Street."

South Lanarkshire Council executive director of education Tony McDaid said: "Due to a police incident in the area pupils at Auchinraith Primary School, Calderside Academy and Calderside Nursery are being kept within the premises as a precautionary measure.

"Police have confirmed the incident is contained within a house, the schools are not involved.

"We will continue to liaise with the police."