FUGITIVE gunman Raoul Moat has died after shooting himself during a six-hour stand-off with police.

Despite being taken to hospital, Moat did not survive the wounds suffered when it is believed he shot himself in the early hours as the week-long manhunt reached a deadly conclusion.

The 37-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at Newcastle General Hospital.

It is understood he shot himself in the head around 1.10am.

Around 1.30am Northumbria Police reported from the Northumberland village of Rothbury that "a shot or shots have been fired and it is believed the suspect has a gunshot wound".

Moat had been on the run for a week after shooting his former girlfriend, her new boyfriend and an unarmed police officer.

At 7.45pm last night police said a man who fitted the suspect's description had been found in the riverbank area of Rothbury and specially trained officers were negotiating with him.

That led to a sustained period of negotiation, during which time Moat pointed a sawn-off shotgun at his head and throat.

Just as it looked like the stand-off might be continuing into the new day, the shot rang out.

Speaking after Moat was detained Chief Superintendent Mark Dennett of Northumbria Police said: "Police discovered a man fitting the description of Raoul Thomas Moat at around 7pm near the riverbank in the vicinity of Rothbury.

"When he was discovered he was armed. Expert negotiators were brought in to speak to him and spoke to him extensively for several hours.

A police spokesman said: "At around 1.15am, from information available at the moment, it appears the suspect shot himself. No shots were fired by police officers.

"He is currently in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries."

Moat arrived at Newcastle General hospital at around 2.05am, where the car park had been vacated and sealed off by police moments earlier.

He was seen being carried in on a stretcher, with a blanket covering his head.

Moat went on the run a week ago after allegedly blasting his ex-girlfriend and killing her new lover.

Karate instructor Chris Brown, 29, was gunned down in the Scafell area of Birtley, Gateshead.

The fatal shooting, in which 22-year-old Miss Stobbart received critical injuries, sparked a huge manhunt as Moat declared war on police.

Pc David Rathband, 42, was shot early on Sunday in an unprovoked attack while sitting in a patrol car in East Denton, Newcastle.

In chilling letters left for officers he claimed to be "a killer and a maniac" and pledged to "keep shooting police until he died".

On Tuesday the focus of the hunt turned to the small town of Rothbury - 30 miles north of Newcastle - after a car linked to Moat was found abandoned.

Last night, by the riverside in Rothbury, Moat began negotiations with officers. Witnesses claimed he was pointing a shotgun to his head but was given food and water.

At least ten snipers had their guns trained on Moat and dozens more armed officers were on standby.

Margaret Chandler, who lives just yards from the siege, said she had locked herself inside her home.

"Lots of police have been up and down. Some of them came down the side earlier and told me to stay indoors and lock everything up," the 79-year-old, who lives alone, said.

Yesterday evening eyewitnesses described how Moat was lying down pointing a gun at himself while surrounded by armed police and negotiators.

Another man said Moat was chased through the village and headed east before being cornered at the primary school tennis courts and bowling green.

Retired taxi driver Dave Murray, 67, of Knocklaw, said: "There is nowhere for him to go, the river is on one side and this road and all the police on the other."

The culvert where Moat may have been hiding was about 4ft in diameter, with a metal grate which can be lifted.

The spot on the river where it opens is popular with fishermen.

Moat was said to be a keen angler and has visited Rothbury many times.

The search for Moat - one of the biggest in British history - included officers from 15 forces including Scotland Yard snipers and armoured 4x4 cars from Northern Ireland. An RAF Tornado with imaging equipment also joined the manhunt.

Initially, it was believed Moat posed a serious risk only to his former girlfriend and police officers. The father-of-three holds a series of grudges against the police and was only released from a short spell in prison the on July 1.

But on Thursday police warned that Moat had made threats against the wider public.

Police were stationed outside schools and people who live in Rothbury and surrounding areas warned to keep windows and doors locked.

On Tuesday Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan - originally thought to be hostages - were found wandering along a country lane. Both have since appeared in court charged with conspiracy to murder.