THERE was a clear sense of shock in Kirkheaton as news of yesterday’s fatal shooting filtered through.

Residents of the normally quiet village woke up to find their streets teeming with police officers and journalists following the overnight siege.

Many spoke of how they had known Alistair Bell, the 42-year-old who shot and injured a young policeman before being shot dead.

Some described him as a pleasant man, often seen walking his dog and happy to chat. Others spoke of his problems with the police and how he had been in prison before.

Andrew Cousins, 26, saw the drama unfold from the window of his bedroom on Cockley Hill Lane.

He said: “We saw police cars then heard the helicopter. The entire road was full of police cars.

“Every now and again they would shout ‘Put your weapon down and come to the door and no-one will get hurt’.

“They told us all to stay inside and shut all our windows and doors.

“It was like that all night.”

Mr Cousins said the police turned off the street lights while the siege continued. After further shots, an ambulance arrived in the early hours.

He added: “Paramedics came at about 5.30am and took what looked like a body away. You’re bound to be shocked by something like that.”

Margaret Ainley, 81, also lives on Cockley Hill Lane.

She said: “Just before I went to bed I looked out of my window and saw the police at the top of our yard.

“I thought there had been an accident but I didn’t know anything bad had happened.

“I couldn’t believe it because he seemed like a very quiet lad.”

She said he was a loner who would keep to himself, but told of a previous occasion when he had been arrested.

“A while back there was an incident when police took him in overnight and there was a big skip which they filled with stuff from his house like they were looking for something,” she said.

“But they only kept him in for one night.”

Steven Lawson, 63, who lives in Kirkheaton, knew Mr Bell.

He said: “He had a record and he’s been heavily involved in drugs for the last two or three years.

“He’s always pleasant to speak to but he had a reputation in the village.

“I’ve known him for 17 years and he’s always been a loner. People didn’t have a lot of time for him. “But it’s a bad end for anyone to be shot like that.”

Keith Durkin, 66, lives at the bottom of Cockley Hill Lane. He heard gunshots on Monday night.

Mr Durkin, pictured, said: “We heard something that sounded like fireworks. The dog went out and started playing hell.

“It’s a shock, especially because we were oblivious to what was going on.

“I used to know him as a kid – he was a bit younger than my son and we lived a few doors away from his family.

“I’d still see him walking his dog.

“I moved here 30 years ago and stayed because I loved it. It’s a good community.”

Jonathan Sykes and his wife, Maggie, were at home on Town Top.

Mr Sykes said: “It sounded like fireworks and then there was a helicopter. I didn’t think anything of it.”

Mrs Sykes, who went to school with Mr Bell at Kirkheaton Primary School and King James’s School in Almondbury, said he was a friendly man.

She said: “We would see him walking the dogs over the fields and whenever I saw him we would have a bit of banter. He was perfectly pleasant.

“It’s a big shock and it’s sad for his family. You never expect something like this to happen.”

Shane Livingstone was also at school with Mr Bell. He said: “I was only speaking to him last week. It’s terrible, he was a good bloke.”

The Rev Richard Steel, rector of Kirkheaton Parish Church, was visiting parishioners yesterday.

He said: “Everybody’s very shocked – it’s a dreadful thing to have happened and outside of anybody’s realm of experience.

“This is a great place to live – there’s a good community spirit.”

Monday afternoon: Police receive reports of a man making threats at a house in Huddersfield.

10pm: Officers attend Alistair Bell’s address to investigate. He pulls out a gun and fires, hitting a police constable who suffers minor injuries.

Minutes later armed police arrive and a stand-off begins.

During the next seven-and-a-half hours officers attempt to persuade Mr Bell to put his weapon down and surrender himself. Neighbours are ordered to stay indoors.

5.30am: Following further gunfire, Mr Bell is shot. He receives medical attention at the scene before being taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where he is pronounced dead.

The matter is immediately referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for investigation.