IT'S hard to believe that it was 10 years ago when Derrick Bird unleashed his terror on the streets of Cumbria.

As news reporters we were covering the breaking news story from the heart of the community in a bid to update residents and issue warnings and advice from the police.

We all wondered when - or even if - it would end and as well as terrorising communities in Copeland at one stage police feared Bird was heading south to either the Lakes or Barrow.

The 52-year-old taxi driver turned the gun on himself after carrying out a 45-mile rampage.

He killed 12 people - including his twin brother David, and injured a further 11.

And of course the shootings could have claimed many more victims.

While in the aftermath of the ordeal it was difficult to understand what had happened one thing was clear - our communities would pull together and survive.

For when something terrible happens - as with the coronavirus pandemic for instance, the way we deal with grief and terror also brings out the best in people.

The wider Cumbria community stood side-by-side with the towns and villages in the west of the county.

And although 12 people lost their lives they may be gone - but they will never be forgotten.