Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has reportedly been charged with murder following the death of his girlfriend at his home in Pretoria.

Police in South Africa have confirmed that a 26-year-old man has been charged following his arrest in the early hours of this morning for allegedly shooting his 30-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the arm and the head.

While police spokeswoman Brigadier Denise Beukes, who was speaking outside of the Silver Lakes complex where Pistorius lives, was unable to confirm the identity of the accused, they have revealed that they were "surprised" to hear allegations that Pistorius had mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder when he opened fire.

South African police have confirmed that there are no other suspects, but there are witnesses, who are thought to have heard the shooting as well as incidents earlier on in the evening from the home, where a 9mm pistol was found.

The authorities also confirmed that they had been made aware of previous "allegations of a domestic nature" from the home of Pistorius.

Beukes went on to confirm that the accused and the deceased were the only two people in the property at the time and that there were no signs of forced entry.

The double amputee, who competed at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games last summer, will appear at Pretoria Magistrates' Court at around 12.30pm UK time.