Council leader on terrorism: 'We have emergency plans in place'

Coun Simon Blackburn, who chairs the Safer, Stronger Communities group for the Local Government Association, said: "There is no reason to think Blackpool is at any greater risk of attack than anywhere else, and I want to reassure people that we have very clear risk assessments and emergency plans in place, which are reviewed regularly."

Blackpool Tower's lights were switched off last night as a sign of respect, and will be lit up in red, white, and blue from lunchtime today, when the Union flag above the town hall was lowered to half-mast this morning.

Coun Blackburn, who said he recently met with anti-terror experts in Blackpool to talk about security in the region, added: "The shocking events in Westminster are of very grave concern to us all, and on behalf of the people of Blackpool, I send our deepest condolences to the families of the people who have been killed, including the police officer who was killed in the line of duty."

The officer was last night named as 48-year-old Keith Palmer, a father and husband. A minute's silence was held across the country at 9.33am today - in honour of PC Palmer's shoulder number, 933.

Another victim was named this morning as Aysha Frade, a 'highly regarded and loved' member of staff at the DLD College London, just a few hundred metres from Westminster Bridge.

The 43-year-old died after being hit by the terrorist's car as she walked across the bridge to collect her children from school, it was reported.

Security across Lancashire is to be reviewed following yesterday's murderous attack Armed police raid Birmingham flat overnight - making a number of arrests Blackpool South MP heard 'gunshots' as officers shot terrorist dead