Police issue arrest update after boy, 8, shot in the head at farm

A man who was arrested after an eight-year-old boy was shot dead at a farm has been released on bail, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called to the remote farm in the Warcop area of Cumbria to reports of a child being seriously injured. The boy, aged eight, was rushed to hospital in an air ambulance having suffered injuries to his head and face.

He tragically died overnight, Cumbria Police said. The firearm was seized by officers.

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A man aged in his 60s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault. He was taken into police custody and later held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

In an update issued on Sunday evening, police said he had been bailed as detectives continued their investigations. The force is continuing to urge any witnesses to come forward.

Locals who live in Warcop said they believed the shooting could have been an accident. The farmer, who owns the land where the shooting took place, said he is 'deeply upset' by the incident.

He toldThe Sun: "I had to witness what happened. It's deeply upsetting. My mother is in her 80s and ill."

One mother, who also lives in the village, said: "We don't know fully what happened yet. I have heard that he didn't go to the school in Warcop. I read earlier that it was an accidental discharge of the weapon.

"A lot of us have kids of that age. It's a very tight knit community."

She added: "We all have kids at that school so there was panic this morning that it may have been someone we knew. I read an e-mail from our school saying the victim didn't go there so we don't know where they were from. It is quite shocking and you really