Clacton Manhunt: Police Hunting Peter Reeve Say Suspect Found Dead In A Churchyard (PICTURES)

Body Found During Police Search For Suspected Clacton Gunman

In a press conference police said: "I can confirm that Peter Reeves was found dead with a weapon in a Writtle churchyard and no shots were fired by police."

Pc Ian Dibell was shot dead and a member of the public sustained leg injuries after a gunman struck in a residential street in the seaside town of Clacton in Essex.

The family of Pc Dibell called him a "hero" and said he had paid for his actions "in the most devastating way".

Earlier officers said the risk to the public from suspect Peter Reeve, 64, was over following an overnight man hunt.

Police said before the incident Reeve was "largely unknown" to police.

Essex police said they had received a phone call from a member of the public shortly after 8:30am on Tuesday morning. They also confirmed Reeve had family ties in the Chelmsford area.

"I believe the call that we received certainly led us to believe that shots may have been fired in or near the churchyard."

They also paid tribute to Pc Dibell saying he "must have known he was in mortal danger."

"He paid the ultimate price for looking after the public," he said.

Police confirmed the murder investigation was ongoing.

Pictures showed a police tent had been erected in what appeared to be a graveyard in Writtle.

Witness Marcus Griffin told BBC News police were "blocking off both entrances" of the churchyard's cemetery on Tuesday morning: "When I was coming in this morning there were lots of police all around, lots of traffic. A police officer told us to hold on.

"Then, as we went past where the cemetery area is, there were police cars all around blocking off both entrances.

"One lady I heard asked 'should we leave' and he said 'as far as I know, no.' That was all they really said to us."

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Shooting in Clacton

Shooting In Clacton

Detectives from Essex Police launched a round-the-clock search involving armed response units and scores of officers after Pc Dibell, 41, was shot in Redbridge Road at around 3.40pm on Monday. The force said it had found the suspected gunman's vehicle at a nearby road junction and had warned members of the public not to approach Reeve, who is believed to be armed.

Essex Police Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle described Pc Dibell as a "brave, respected and experienced neighbourhood officer" and said early indications were that he lost his life after deliberately intervening in an "extremely deadly situation".

He would not reveal the fine details of the altercation, but reports suggest the off-duty officer had challenged the gunman who was chasing a man and woman along Redbridge Road, where it is believed the dead policeman lived.

Police released a photograph of suspect Peter Reeve, 64, and vowed to "not rest" until he was captured and taken into custody.

A local resident told the BBC that she and her next door neighbour heard a woman screaming then what they thought were five or six gunshots. Another local, Eric Long, 80, said he saw the gunman from his window.

Andrew Gallehawk, who witnessed the shooting on Monday told ITV's Daybreak it was "one of those Clint Eastwood-type things."

"It looked like a blonde guy, taking aim and made a couple of shots at him.

"Another guy flew past the house, sort of running, and that I assume now is the off-duty policeman.

"And then there were some more shots and then about five or six minutes after that there was a lady who seemed to be screaming in the middle of the road, and then we had all the police."

He added: "It was like one of those Clint Eastwood-type things where you've got the guy sort of crouching slightly on his knees and he's just taken a shot.

"I thought it was an airgun at first but obviously when I spoke to the police they said to stay in the house because it wasn't, it was live."

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