DAILLON: A gunman shot and killed three women and injured two men in a Swiss village, and was then arrested by officers who shot and injured him.

Police in the southern state of Valais said they were alerted to the shooting just before 9pm on Wednesday.

Officers quickly arrived at the scene to find a man with a old military rifle, police chief Robert Steiner said.

Three victims, aged 32, 54 and 79, died at the scene. The two injured men, aged 33 and 63, were taken to hospital.