A number of people have been killed after a gunman opened fire in several areas of west Cumbria.
Cumbria Police say the suspect has fired shots in the Whitehaven, Seascale and Egremont areas.
Legal practice worker Helen Owens
Helen Owens, who works at Brockbank, Cain and Hall, on Duke Street in Whitehaven, said: "We heard a couple of gunshots and the police running about.
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"One of our secretaries was out at the time and she saw a guy lying dead on the ground covered with a sheet - she saw his trainers sticking out.
"There's police tape across it so we can't see exactly what happened but saw a policeman running across the street.
"We have also heard there was another shooting at Morrison's car park, which is about five minutes away.
"We have the door locked. There's a police station two minutes away."
Whitehaven resident Barry McAleavy
Barry McAleavy was in his garden when he heard an "almighty bang" and a woman screaming. He went to the front to find a taxi stationary in the road.
"Across the road there was a lady and I presume a taxi driver heading down a side passage between a house," he said.
"About 10 seconds after that a policeman followed them. Then I saw the back of a car speeding away up Coach Road, where I live. There was a police van following it.
"There was a taxi in the street with its window blown out. The lady was screaming, she was white as a sheet and the man's hand and the side of his face were covered in blood.
"The paramedics came and then police in boiler suits cordoned off the area and we were all told to stay indoors. It's all very upsetting.
"I live just about a quarter of a mile from Duke Street where the first person was shot. We didn't even know of the incident.
"I've lived in Whitehaven all of my life, it's a lovely little town. You just don't expect this."
Sellafield process worker Gary Bound
Lifelong Whitehaven resident Gary Bound, 37, was in the town when he heard the shots.
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"We heard two really loud bangs. At the time we laughed because we thought it was an exhaust backfiring," he said.
"We went into the hairdresser and about two minutes later someone came running in saying that someone had been shot in the face.
"The police were there in about five minutes. The man was already covered when we saw him.
"We had to walk past him to get home. All I wanted to do was to put my kids in the car and get home. I was standing next to where he was lying. The Tesco security guards were there too, helping redirect the traffic.
"I am still shaking and my 11-year-old son is very upset, as you can imagine."
Dr Barrie Walker, Seascale GP
Dr Barrie Walker has spent more than 30 years working as a family doctor in Seascale, where he was earlier been called to certify the deaths of shooting victims.
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"The surgery was called and I went out. I've certified one of them dead. My colleague saw another," he said.
"At present there are two people dead and one seriously injured in Seascale. I know one of the victims. She was in the street.
"The second person was on a bicycle and was shot on the bike.
"The person who is seriously injured was in his car, driving along. It looks as though he was shot through the window.
"Seascale is a small place, it's village of 2,000 people."
Seascale villager John Cook
John Cook said he was visiting the doctor at about 1130 BST when he saw three dead bodies along one street.
"I went into Seascale and saw a body lying half on the pavement, half on the road," he said.
"I thought a person had just collapsed. Then I went another 50, 60 or 70 yards further on and saw a cyclist. It looked as if something had happened to them, there was a blanket over that person.
"I went around the corner and a Range Rover was stopped, blocking the path through to the one track under the railway bridge. It looked as if somebody had been shot in that vehicle.
"The next thing I saw was the doctor arrive and the nurses. It's a shock. This is a quiet area and nothing like this has happened before."
Frizington resident Julian Kirkley
Julian Kirkley had been due to attend the funeral of Frizington teenager Chloe Walker, who was among three people to die in a coach crash on 24 May - her 16th birthday.
"The funeral cortege was due to pass through through at 1130 BST," he said.
"I was with villagers lining the road when we were alerted to something going on by the sheer number of police cars that came screaming through the village.
"The fourth one stopped and said 'There's been shootings in Whitehaven and Seascale and you need to go indoors.'
"I was speaking to my next door neighbour. She's lived here all her life and knows the Bird family very well. She's completely surprised and said Derrick Bird seems a very normal person."
Sean King, landlord, The Boot Inn
Mr King's pub is in the village of Boot, where shooting suspect Derrick Bird has abandoned his car 500 yards from the inn.
"I got a phone call directly from the police saying they thought [the gunman] was heading up this way," said Mr King.
"Soon there were lots of police cars heading up the valley and helicopters too.
"We're a very small village so we all look after each other. We've got a lot of visitors.
"It's a lovely day and we're just pulling everybody in and giving them tea and coffee."
Local businessman Peter Watson
Peter Watson arrived in Whitehaven moments after one of the shootings.
Police have sealed off the centre of Whitehaven
"When I first got here, it must have just happened," he said.
"A woman said 'A man's just been shot around the corner' - I had a quick look and there was a man lying on the ground with the police stood over him with a jacket over his face.
"I'm actually from London, I came here five years ago and I've never seen anything like this whatsoever."
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
BBC News - Cumbria shootings: Witness reports
via news.bbc.co.uk
