An Essex woman has been charged with trying to murder two 10-year-old boys who were stabbed during an eight hour armed siege at a house.

Ann Marie McEvoy, 39, will appear before a court accused of two counts of attempted murder after the young lads were injured at a property in Friskney, Lincs.

McEvoy, of Colchester, also faces charges of attempted GBH on an emergency worker and threatening a person with a knife.

Police, including firearms officers, had originally been called to Fold Hill to reports of a "concern for safety" at around 1.50pm on Tuesday (November 29).

Officers began negotiating with the woman inside from 4.30pm onwards which went on for several hours until they forced entry at 1am yesterday (November 30).

They found two boys, aged 10, inside the property and both were taken to hospital for treatment for stab wounds, which were not believed to be life threatening.

McEvoy was tasered before being arrested and Lincolnshire Police has since referred itself to the police watchdog.

She has been remanded in custody after being charged and will appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (December 2).

A force spokesperson said previously: "We attended a property in Fold Hill, Friskney, following a call at 1.49pm on Tuesday, 29 November reporting a concern for safety.

"Our officers attended and spoke to the occupant.

"From around 4.30pm yesterday specially-trained officers negotiated with a woman inside the property, and this continued for several hours.

"Firearms officers were also present at the scene. Officers forced entry into the property shortly after 1am this morning (30/11).

"Two boys, both aged 10 years old, sustained stab wounds in the incident. Both were taken to hospital, but neither is believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

"A 39-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. She remains in police custody.

"Following this incident, a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

"The road was closed for several hours while our officers were at the scene but it has now reopened.

"There was no wider threat to residents during the incident."

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) spokesperson said: “We were contacted by Lincolnshire Police regarding an incident in Friskney in which two ten-year-old boys sustained stab wounds and a woman was tasered and arrested by police.

"The boys have been taken to hospital but their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

"We sent investigators to the police post incident procedures, where the officers involved will give their initial accounts.

"We are currently assessing the incident to determine if any action will be required from us.”

An East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson added: "We received a call at 5.11pm on 29 November to a private address in Friskney.

"The caller reported a medical emergency. We sent the Hazardous Area Response Team, a doctor in a car, two paramedics in fast response cars and three crewed ambulances.

"Two patients were taken to hospital via crewed ambulances.”