Following the tragic murder of a woman and her two children, aged 1 and 2 in Fordingbridge Hants, followed by the suicide by hanging of a man, there were scenes eerily reminiscent of those in Rothbury, as gunman Raoul Moat was cornered by police officers.
In Fordinbridge, local kids turned out in force to mug for the TV News cameras, chatting on mobile phones and showing off their summer finery.
Although not quite a carnival atmosphere, it was unnerving for news viewers to witness teens congregating around TV cameras in an attempt to be seen on the telly.
"They should ban this sort of thing," a neighbour said. "None of these kids had any connection with the family affected by this tragedy, and their selfish behaviour is turning a private disaster into something vaguely resembling an X-Factor audition."
Another neighbour, retired army Colonel Tom Prescott-LeScott was rather more outspoken, saying:
"They ought to machine-gun the little bastards. Wipe 'em out. They're a damned disgrace. Every time there's a tragedy like this, I can't focus on the news reporters for the wankers mugging it up for the cameras."
More as we get it.
