Pub offers shelter to terrified customers during Cumbria shootings

A licensee has revealed how he sheltered around 45 terrified customers behind locked doors during the shooting spree that left 12 people dead in Cumbria today.

Speaking exclusively to The Publican​, licensee Sean King, of the Boot Inn, said he locked the pub doors following police advice to stay indoors while the gunman was still at large.

The dramatic events culminated in the sleepy hamlet of Boot, where the body thought to be that of the suspect, Derrick Bird, was eventually found in woodland, just behind the pub.

"We heard about it on the breaking news today on the TV and within minutes we had a call from the police that he was on his way up the valley and we should get people inside and lock the doors," said Sean.

"There were a few people in the garden as it is a lovely sunny day so I went out and got them inside.

"Not long after he ditched his car 200 yards away from us and went for cover in the woods.

"You could cut the atmosphere with a knife.

"To keep people calm we made tea and coffee and locked the doors. We were nervous as he could have been anywhere.

"I saw two helicopters - they carried on circling for over an hour concentrating on a nearby area obviously trying to corner him so I was nervous. There is quite dense woodland behind the pub and he could have been anywhere. We knew he was shooting people at random so when I heard the helicopters I got more nervous as we had a pub full of people."

The gunman was so close that Sean heard a shot at around 2pm today.

"I am used to hearing shotguns in season in the woods but I thought the gunshot was him shooting himself or the police."

"People are now sitting outside again just talking about what happened, we're so relieved it's over," said Sean.