Negotiator texted Cumbrian killer

A trained police negotiator phoned and sent text messages to the gunman Derrick Bird when the details of his rampage began to emerge, an inquest heard yesterday.

Inspector Craig Lory said: "I continued calling the mobile and texted him, asking Bird to stop what he was doing and reassuring him he would not be hurt. I received no reply."

The officer was giving evidence on day six of the inquests into the shootings in Cumbria on 2 June last year. Bird shot 12 people dead and injured 11 before killing himself.