WARNING: LINK CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGE.
Children are holed up at schools in a Northumberland village after reported sightings of fugitive gunman Raoul Moat.
Police have effectively closed the village of Rothbury, north of Newcastle, amid reports Moat is in the area.
Detectives said the "net was closing" on the bodybuilder but warned members of the public to stay in doors and have stopped children from going home.
A spokesman said: "We are working closely with the local authority and are advising parents that children at school in Rothbury will be kept in school at the moment where they will be looked after by teaching staff.
"We are seeking the co-operation of parents and residents during this time as no-one will be allowed in or out of Rothbury until further notice."
Dozens of armed police have been searching for Moat, 37, since Saturday morning.
He allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown before gunning down PC David Rathband, 42.
He mistakenly thought Miss Stobbart was having an affair with an officer.
Moat reportedly confessed to the gun rampage in a letter warning: "I will keep killing police until I'm dead."
One of his friends, Andy Mcallister, revealed the wanted man gave him a 49-page handwritten letter to pass on to officers and the press.
Other extracts included: "Last night I declared war on Northumbria Police.
"They took it all from me... kids, freedom, house… obviously I have issues, but I was pushed.
"I am very sorry about Sam, and wish I hadn't shot at her... I never cheated on her, I wish she hadn't on me. She pulled the trigger by doing so just as much as me."
Officers also said they had recovered a black Lexus, which Moat was thought to have been using.
Breaking News3:57pm UK, Tuesday July 06, 2010
Moat Manhunt: Children Holed Up At Schools
Share83 Share Comments (25)Alex Watts and Damien Pearse, Sky News Online
Children are holed up at schools in a Northumberland village after reported sightings of fugitive gunman Raoul Moat.
Police have effectively closed the village of Rothbury, north of Newcastle, amid reports Moat is in the area.
Detectives said the "net was closing" on the bodybuilder but warned members of the public to stay in doors and have stopped children from going home.
A spokesman said: "We are working closely with the local authority and are advising parents that children at school in Rothbury will be kept in school at the moment where they will be looked after by teaching staff.
"We are seeking the co-operation of parents and residents during this time as no-one will be allowed in or out of Rothbury until further notice."
Police search farmland in Rothbury
This afternoon officers in white forensic suits, wearing masks, were seen walking away from where the Lexus was found.
They headed along a path into woodland by the river. Police cars, with sirens wailing sped along the country lanes around, and leading to, the village.
It came amid reports that there was evidence that people had been camping out nearby.
Earlier police detained two men they had feared Moat was holding hostage.
The men, found walking in a village north of Newcastle, were actually detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
Chris Brown was shot dead by Moat.
Detectives said Moat was still at large but a car he is believed to have been driving had also been located in the village, Rothbury, where police set up an exclusion zone.
The media had agreed to a news black-out after police said they might be dealing with a hostage situation, but that was dramatically lifted at a news conference this morning.
Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt said it is now understood the pair may have played some part in the three shootings.
He said police are looking at the possibility they were harbouring the former bouncer, rather than being held by him.
Northumbria Police were not informed that Mr Moat intended to shoot or kill Samantha Stobbart.
Northumbria Police Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim
Last night, a man matching Moat's description robbed a fish and chip shop at gun point.
Officers said a 6ft tall white man - aged about 35 with a "muscular build" - brandished the weapon in Blyth, 10 miles north of Newcastle, before escaping with cash.
Watch the latest on Sky Player
Dozens of armed police have been searching for Moat, 37, since Saturday morning.
He allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown before gunning down PC David Rathband, 42.
He mistakenly thought Miss Stobbart was having an affair with an officer.
Moat reportedly confessed to the gun rampage in a letter warning: "I will keep killing police until I'm dead."
One of his friends, Andy Mcallister, revealed the wanted man gave him a 49-page handwritten letter to pass on to officers and the press.
Picture from Samantha Stobbart's Facebook page
Other extracts included: "Last night I declared war on Northumbria Police.
"They took it all from me... kids, freedom, house… obviously I have issues, but I was pushed.
"I am very sorry about Sam, and wish I hadn't shot at her... I never cheated on her, I wish she hadn't on me. She pulled the trigger by doing so just as much as me."
Officers also said they had recovered a black Lexus, which Moat was thought to have been using.
PC Rathband was attacked while on duty in Newcastle
It was found in Rothbury after a tip-off from a member of the public. Police then found the two men wandering along a nearby road.
Moat, from the Fenham area of Newcastle, was released from prison on Thursday after being jailed for 18 weeks for assault.
On Saturday, he allegedly shot Miss Stobbart, 22, and killed Chris Brown, 29, at a house in the Scafell area of Gateshead, before fleeing.
The next day, Moat is suspected of shooting married father-of-two PC Rathband, in East Denton, Newcastle. The officer's condition remains critical but stable.
Police said Miss Stobbart - who is being "appropriately protected" - was no longer in a critical condition and was "improving".
Officers were warned Moat may have been planning to harm his ex-girlfriend the day before he allegedly went on a shooting spree.
Northumbria Police Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim confirmed: "Northumbria Police were not informed that Mr Moat intended to shoot or kill Samantha Stobbart.
"We were informed on Friday afternoon by Durham Prison that Mr Moat may intend to cause serious harm to his partner.
"We acknowledge that it is important that these matters are investigated thoroughly, and I have voluntarily referred this aspect to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."
Anyone with information should call 03456 043043 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Edit: Sorry bout that guys was just watching on Sky News so put the link to the story up without reading through the whole thing.
