Rothbury, Northumberland - As Raoul Moat engaged police in a tense stand-off, some three hundred yards away, it appeared to be party time in Rothbury.
As Mr Moat held a sawn-off shotgun to his own head, Friday night revellers packed The Strangler's Arms pub in the village, drinking and harassing TV crews outside at a police roadblock.
It was almost a carnival atmosphere as people continually walked in front of TV cameras talking into mobile phones, drinking beer and mugging for the viewers.
It appears that The Strangler's Arms did a roaring trade, and that the Rothbury pub's owners will happily welcome any future gun weilding fugitives from justice.
It is anticipated that the festivities will resume today and continue long into the night.
By the time Raoul Moat shot himself, a bit like Big Vern out of Viz Comic, the pub had closed.
More as we get it.
