Twelve people have reportedly been shot after a gunman went on a killing spree in Cumbria today.

Police named Derrick Bird, 52, of Rowrah, near Frizington, as the man they were searching for in connection with the shootings in Whitehaven, Gosforth, Seascale and Egremont.

Police discovered a body shortly after 2pm which was believed to be that of Mr Bird.

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Bird, of Cumbria Police said: “I can confirm that we have discovered a body in a wooded area near Boot, which we believe is Mr Bird, along with a firearm. A formal identification will take place later this afternoon.”

Bird fled the area in a silver/blue Citroen Picasso, which has since been recovered by police abandoned at Cockley Bek.

Taxi driver Bird then switched cars to a black Vauxhall Astra having shot his first victim, a friend and fellow taxi driver, in Whitehaven at 10.35am.

A taxi company boss said one of her drivers witnessed the aftermath of the shooting at a rival taxi rank in the town. Glenda Pears, who runs L&G Taxis, said both Mr Bird and the Duke Street victim were self-employed drivers and friends.

She said Mr Bird had been a taxi driver for 23 years and was divorced with two sons. She described him as a “real nice man”.

She said: “We just don’t know what’s happened. The lad that’s been killed was friends with him. They used to stand together having a craic on the rank.

“He was friends with everybody and used to stand and joke on Duke Street.”

She said a female taxi driver working for her had to swerve to avoid Mr Bird’s car immediately after the first shooting.

She said: “He was driving and she saw the gun. She was hysterical and had to pull over and stop. The gun was hanging out of the window. She’s still shaken up because they’ve not caught him.

“We are just numb at the moment. We just want to know what he’s done it for. He’s such a nice lad. One of my drivers was talking to him last night. He was just working as normal and was going to go to Tesco’s to get chicken.”

Reports said Bird left Whitehaven, heading to Egremont and then Seascale and was then heading north towards the Central Lakes area. Sources in Cumbria said a farmer was then shot at point blank range in Gosforth at around 11.30am, although this has not been confirmed by police.