A MAN slashed his own throat after reportedly going berserk in a Swansea Tesco store.

The 28-year-old was rushed to hospital after the horrific incident in the Fforestfach Tesco Extra late on Tuesday night.

Eye witnesses have told how armed police were called in after staff raised the alarm. It is understood the store was evacuated and closed for a time as police tried to deal with the situation.

However, details of the incident are sketchy and police are unable to confirm exactly what happened as the matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The Evening Post understands the man went into the store in Parc Fforestfach on Pontarddulais Road shortly after 10pm.

It is believed he took a knife from the kitchen section and was confronted by staff. After police arrived he used it to cut his throat. Writing on the Facebook social networking site, shopper Bethan Strangward said: "I was there. I got evacuated from there by police with guns . . . staff were saying a man was upstairs and had gone bonkers.

"There were quite a few kids around."

Yesterday the man was said to be in a critical but stable condition.

A Swansea police spokesman said: "We are investigating an incident which occurred at the Tesco store on Pontarddulais Road at around 10.15pm on Tuesday, after which a 28-year-old man was conveyed to Morriston Hospital.

"The matter has been referred to the IPCC as per the guidelines. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage."

A spokesman for the IPCC said: "The law requires an incident like this to be referred to us as the police were present when a man harmed himself.

"We have now had the referral from the police and will decide if the matter needs to be investigated by the IPCC or not."

paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk