Last updated at 15:49, Wednesday, 09 June 2010

IT IS impossible to describe the emotions that went through my mind as news started to filter through about just what was happening.

It’s a cliche but things like the shootings just don’t happen here. They are something you hear about in some far away state in America which makes you wince a little before you quickly change the television channel.

I was in Carlisle on Wednesday when the events began to unfold. I was sent a message to tell me what had happened and then regular updates, but it wasn’t until I got back to Whitehaven at about half past four that I really started to appreciate what had happened. I still couldn’t believe that this was happening on our streets to our friends and neighbours, many of whom were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I awoke on Thursday morning hoping it had all been a bad dream, but the nightmare is real and my focus now is on supporting the community through the difficult days, weeks and months ahead. There are no magic words that will make things better, time will soothe the pain but we will forever be scarred by the events.

I have been touched by the many messages of support that I have received at the council, both from the people of Copeland and from further afield. Our strength in Copeland is our community – and we will pull together to come through this.

ELAINE WOODBURN

Egremont councillor and leader, Copeland Borough Council

First published at 15:43, Wednesday, 09 June 2010
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk