3 people are dead and 7 others have been wounded after a gunman opened fire in a Swiss factory before turning the gun on himself.

The incident happened at a wood panel plant in Menzau, near Lucerne, shortly before am this morning.

A police statement said that the perimeter had been sealed off and that a hotline had been set up for families and employees.

A witness quoted by the local newspaper said that an individual had entered the factory canteen and opened fire.

The factory is the top employer in Menzau employing around 400 people.