Moat kills himself in stand-off with police

Gunman Raoul Moat has killed himself bringing an end to a week-long police manhunt.

The 37-year-old blasted himself in the head after being surrounded by armed police on Friday evening.

It followed a tense six-hour stand-off sparked when he was spotted on the riverbank in Rothbury, Northumbria.

An eyewitness reported that the tense siege came to a climax when police surrounded the former nightclub doorman and jumped on him.

A single gunshot was heard before the stricken fugitive, who has evaded a frantic hunt for a week, was taken by ambulance to Newcastle General Hospital.

On arrival he was seen being taken from the ambulance on a stretcher with a blanket covering his head. It is believed he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Susan Ballantyne, whose house overlooks the scene of the stand-off, said police had crowded around Moat and pounced. Another witness, who lives near the river bank where Moat was holed-up, said he heard him telling negotiators: "Nobody cares about me."

Moat's death brings to an end a huge manhunt involving police officers from 15 forces, Scotland Yard sharpshooters and armoured 4x4 cars.