Cumbria: Bird shot victims in the face, says hospital boss

Cumbria killings: Full coverage

Charles Brett, clinical director of emergency services at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, said it would be "speculation" to say Bird aimed deliberately for the face and head of his victims - but suggested that was the case.

"It appears this gentleman was firing out of a car window at head height.

"It is clear that he was directing at the face and head," Mr Brett told journalists at a press conference at the hospital.

Mr Brett was asked directly if he thought that, given the injuries, Bird had targeted the faces of his victims.

"That would be speculation," he said, "but there's a predominance of facial injuries in what we have seen, more than 50 per cent of those that survived had some portion of facial injuries."

Of the patients taken to West Cumberland Hospital, five suffered gunshot wounds to the face, two victims were shot in the back, one was shot in the back and arms, and another was shot in the chest, Mr Brett added.

Two of those were in a stable but serious condition, while four others were described as "comfortable".