Cumbria Shootings

By Leanne Hyland

Outdoor headlines

03 June 2010 15:08

Police are reassuring walkers that the Lake District is still “very much open for business” despite yesterday’s shootings, which saw widespread panic flood through west Cumbria.

Investigations are underway after 13 people were killed and 11 injured when taxi driver Derrick Bird went on a gun rampage, before his vehicle was found abandoned and his body recovered near Boot.

“Whilst this was a terrifying and horrific incident, it is by its nature, very unusual,” said a spokesperson for Cumbria Constabulary. “Cumbria prides itself on being a safe place to live, work, and visit. It is still very much open for business and tourism despite the tragic circumstances of yesterday.”

It is feared that after this incident Cumbria’s tourist scene may take a substantial drop, equal to that of last year when large parts of the county suffered severe flooding, leading to the evacuation of more than 200 people.

Despite the tragic circumstances, police are encouraging people to continue to visit the county which they say “remains one of the safest areas of the UK”.