A man arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after an eight-year-old boy was shot dead at a farm has been bailed.

Emergency services were called at around 2.50pm on Saturday to the property near the A66, north of Warcop, Cumbria.

A firearm was secured at the scene by police and the child was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

Police at the scene.Police at the scene. (Image: FRANK CHALMERS) He died overnight having suffered injuries to his head and face.

A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault.

He was taken to police custody and later held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

The man was later bailed as police continued their investigations.

Aerial images capture the farmland off the A66 in Warcop, Cumbria, where police attended after an eight-year-old boy, suffered gunshot injuries.Aerial images capture the farmland off the A66 in Warcop, Cumbria, where police attended after an eight-year-old boy, suffered gunshot injuries. (Image: SWNS) Cumbria Police urged any witnesses to come forward.

A resident of nearby Brough told the PA news agency he was driving by the scene when he saw medics, police vans and a helicopter.

Recommended reading:

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for one month for just £1, or get 30% off an annual subscription with our latest offer. Click here.

Frank Chalmers, 73, said: “I passed the farm at around about 3pm and I saw the helicopter with its rotors stopped and medics marching up the hill, a lot of police, maybe five police vans. One car was parked in the middle of an empty field.

“It all looked very serious. I think with that level of police presence it’s usually a dreadful incident like a death. They don’t usually turn out in that kind of force.”

The retiree said the area is “very, very rural”.