A hostage situation in northern France has ended.

A group of armed men had taken a number of hostages in the northern French town of Roubaix at around 7pm Irish time.

The hostages have now been freed and one of the gang has reportedly been killed.

Earlier, several people were being treated for gunshot wounds as the drama unfolded in the town near the Belgian border.

Reports suggest the gang were attempting to carry out a robbery in the town, and any link to terrorism has been ruled out.