Cumbria: Friends stunned as 'Birdy' turns into crazed assassin

Cumbria killings: Full coverage

Yet on the night before he went on the rampage through western Cumbria, he told a friend: "You won't see me again," possibly following an argument with fellow taxi drivers in Whitehaven.

Those who knew 52-year-old Bird were at a loss to explain what could have turned him into a killer. They knew him as "Birdy", a popular self-employed taxi driver for 23 years, a fan of motor sport who would fix his own car outside his home.

One driver, who asked not to be named, said Bird enjoyed shooting – but had never shown any aggressive tendencies. "Derrick wouldn't usually say boo to a goose. We can't believe it. I know he enjoyed shooting and scuba diving when he wasn't working – he enjoyed a drink too."

He was a divorced father of two sons, his marriage to a local girl having ended 20 years before, and had become a grandfather for the first time within the last two weeks. Bird lived quietly in Rowrah, near Frizington, and was said by those who knew him to be devoted to his elderly mother, who is believed to have cancer.

Sue Matthews, a telephonist at A2B Taxis in Whitehaven, said he was a familiar figure, regularly seen going for a night out in the town. "To be honest, he was a quiet fellow. I am in absolute shock. I would say he was fairly popular. I would see him once a week out and about."

Glenda Pears, who runs L&G Taxis, described him as a "real nice man", adding that Bird and one of the Duke Street victims were friends.

"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."

His neighbours in Rowrah were similarly shocked.

Ryan Dempsey, 26, who lived two doors down, said Bird was a fan of motor sports and would often be seen wearing a speedway jacket. He added: "I have known him for 15 years. He was always pleasant, always had time to say hello.

"He was often on the roadside fixing his car. I knew his job was a taxi driver and I think he loved his car, he was always tinkering with it."

Derek Richardson said: "He kept himself to himself."

Nearby residents said Mr Bird had two grown-up sons, one of whom became a father for the first time a fortnight ago.

Muriel Gilpin, who owns the post office near Mr Bird's home, added that he would regularly use her shop, and said he had two brothers who also lived in the region.

Michelle Haigh, the landlady of Bird's local – The Hound Inn in Frizington – described him as a "normal bloke".

He would often stop off at the pub, which is about three-quarters of a mile from his home.

"He was just a normal bloke. He was a nice guy, nothing out of the ordinary," she said.

"He would come into the pub, have a couple of pints, have a chat with his friend and go home.

"This is not in character with the Derrick Bird we know. He was just a nice guy. Everybody is shocked."

But a friend of Bird's, Peter Leder said when they spoke on Tuesday night, Bird told him: "You won't see me again."