A man has shot himself after being being stopped by a garda patrol car and opening fire on officers.

The man died after being pulled over by local gardai in Newport, Co Tipperary shortly before 9pm on Monday.

It is understood the man was stopped after he was seen driving erratically.

At least one shot was fired at gardai in the patrol car.

The Garda Ombudsman's office has been called in to lead the investigation.

It is understood gardai reported that the man opened fire after being stopped on the Cork Road in Newport, near the Tipperary Limerick border.

The gardai on the scene were thought to have been unarmed.

A spokesman for the Garda Ombudsman's office said the incident had been referred to their investigators by the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan under section 102 of the Garda Siochana Act.

An investigative team is expected to be on the scene before midnight to take full control of the incident and the area has been sealed off.