A WOMAN has described a city in a state of grief and shock after a gunman opened fire before going on the run.

Four people have since died after the shooting at the heart of the French city of Strasbourg on Tuesday evening.

Jill Riches, who lives in Leigh, was metres from the horrific shooting at a Christmas market in Strasbourg and said the incident has yet to sink in.

The 64-year-old, who works as an interpreter, said: “It will take a while to really sink in.

“On Wednesday morning, I walked around where he had shot people and realised someone had been killed just a few yards from the restaurant I was in at the time.

“I laid a white rose at the site and since then it has become a shrine - one of several in the area.

“If the gunman had turned his fire to the windows of the two restaurants either side of the street, we could have been hit - fortunately he didn’t.”

The man suspected of launching the deadly rampage has been shot dead by French police on Thursday evening.

Cherif Chekatt had been on the run for three days, after fleeing the scene in a taxi, before police tracked him down.

It is believed he was hiding out in a factory and police had been carrying out operations in the area throughout the day with residents moved away as their apartments were searched.

More than 700 officers were involved in the manhunt.

“Everyone is in a state of shock and the Christmas market and most of the shops are still closed.

“We had wondered whether to call off the booth interpreters Christmas party on Wednesday evening but there was a widespread feeling that we should carry on because to call it off is to give in to terrorism.

“I think a number of people were close to tears as we sang carols.

“As I arrived home, I got the message from a friend that the gunman had been shot.”

The market reopened as normal on Friday.