POLICE were searching Rothbury and the surrounding countryside last night, after it emerged that gunman Raoul Moat may have discarded a second weapon in the area.

Northumbria Police officers searched the Northumberland village and nearby stately home Cragside House, which remains closed to the public.

Assistant Chief Constable Greg Vant said there was intelligence that Moat may have had more than one weapon and it was prudent not to rule out such a possibility.

But the operation came as the force faced increasing questions about its use of Taser stun guns during Moat’s last moments.

On Friday night, police finally caught up with the 37- year-old gunman, who had been on the run for almost a week since shooting his exgirlfriend, Samantha Stobbart, her new partner Chris Brown and PC David Rathband, the previous weekend.

Following a six-hour standoff, the 17-stone nightclub bouncer shot himself at 1.15am, after reportedly telling police: “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in a cell.”

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) later confirmed two Tasers were used by different officers.

Anthony Wright, a friend of Moat, said: “I could have talked him round. I’m sure those Tasers lead to his death.”

Northumbria Police topped a recent league for the number of incidents in which a Taser was aimed or used, above the Metropolitan Police, which covers a population five times larger. Between April 2004 and August 2009, the force used the weapon in 704 incidents.

However, with an IPCC investigation ongoing, Sue Sim, temporary chief constable of Northumbria Police, refused to answer questions about the Taser use.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of Moat’s death as gunshot wounds consistent with the weapon he was carrying, and a family friend said they could find no mention in the report of any marks on his body specifically linked to an injury from a Taser.

Meanwhile, stories of Rothbury residents’ involvement in Moat’s final hours continued to emerge yesterday.

Pam Campbell, 50, was walking her dog when she came within feet of the gunman, minutes before police tracked him down.

She said: “He didn’t look anxious or angry. He was looking at the river and looking at his feet. He just didn’t know what to do with himself.

“I wasn’t aware it was actually Raoul Moat until I saw the news ten minutes later.”

However, Margaret Blanshard, who saw Moat minutes afterwards, knew it was him.

She said: “Before I could call the police, two police cars turned up and four armed officers jumped out.”

Bob Herdman, 75, watched the stand-off from his home nearby. He said: “We could see everything from our upstairs window. We heard the shot of his gun and the police immediately charged towards him. It was a bit scary.”

The IPCC will also investigate whether Northumbria Police took adequate action following a warning about Moat from Durham Prison.

Miss Stobbart is said to be making a good recovery in hospital, while PC Rathband is described as stable and comfortable. A man arrested on Friday on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released on bail.

Rothbury residents are now trying to rediscover normality, after the town’s week in the spotlight.

Baker Graham Wade said: “We are just relieved it’s all over.”