Schoolmate saw killer by farm

A former schoolmate of Derrick Bird met him as he lurked near the home of one of his victims at 5.30am.

Shop worker Iris Carruthers, 49, recognised him and said hello, but he did not reply.

Bird was in his taxi, near Mowbray Farm, home of solicitor Kevin Commons, in Frizington. She was out walking her dogs when he passed her and then turned round and came back up. She said, "Hiya lad, you all right?" but he didn't reply.

"I thought he was just normal, I didn't think there was anything untoward. I just thought he had been to the farm and dropped somebody off because he was in his taxi," she said.