Police hunt for second weapon left in by Raoul Moat

POLICE were yesterday searching Rothbury and the surrounding countryside after it was suggested Moat may have discarded a second weapon in the area.

• Mourners leave a bouquet at the scene of Moat's death. Picture: PA

A Northumbria Police spokesman said officers were carrying out follow-up searches in Rothbury itself and the surrounding area. Cragside House, the National Trust stately home nearby, is also being searched and remains closed to the public.

Assistant Chief Constable Greg Vant said: "There is some intelligence that Raoul Moat may have had more than one weapon and it is only prudent with the safety of the public in mind not to rule out such a possibility.

"We are still conducting searches in the area which include some challenging search terrain for any other possible weapons and anything of evidential value."

Meanwhile, it emerged that Moat may have spent the last week hiding in a dark and wet storm drain just metres from where he held a fatal stand-off with police.

A construction worker who worked on the installation of the drains system in Rothbury, Northumberland, said Moat could have spent hours underneath the feet of officers frantically hunting for him. The builder, who would give his name only as Jason, said the circular pipes are big enough for a man Moat's stature.

He said the pipes may have worked as a shield against heat detectors used by police during the week-long manhunt.

"He could have made his way up from the riverbank to the main street using the pipes," said Jason.

"They are round pipes which lead to the river, they're not very long. He could crouch down and get through there. He may have come out of a manhole cover near to the main street. A man of his size could have easily pushed the lid off with his shoulder."

The storm drains, which run under the main street of the town and out to the riverbank, were updated by Jason and his colleagues last year after severe floods swept the village in September 2008.

He said that a number of families in the village play in the drains with their children.

He said: "If he was fishing on the river he would have known about the drains, he probably would have seen children going in and out of them."

The hunt for Moat began after he shot ex-girlfriend Sam Stobbart, killed her boyfriend Chris Brown and seriously injured Pc David Rathband.

Moat managed to evade police capture for almost a week, sparking a huge manhunt involving police officers from 15 forces, Scotland Yard sharpshooters and armoured 4x4 cars.

An RAF Tornado was also deployed to utilise wartime technology in a bid to find the gunman.

Police finally caught up with the fugitive on a riverbank just 150 metres from the town centre.

Yesterday it was reported that bouquet of flowers had been left outside of Moat's home in the Fenham area of Newcastle.