A man was shot dead by police yesterday afternoon after a member of the public reported a man carrying a gun.

He was seen outside Guildford Cathedral and, just after midday, armed officers from Surrey Police were deployed to the area. The man, 39, said to be a local resident, was shot dead a few hours later.

Ballistic and forensic science experts from the Independent Police Complaints Commission arrived at the scene yesterday evening to begin their inquiries. Rebecca Marsh, one of the commissioners, said: “I would like to reassure the man’s family, the public and the police officers that the investigation will be thorough, proportionate and timely.”

A police cordon was thrown around the cathedral, and 500 people who were to have attended a carol service there in the evening were turned back.

Surrey Police refused to comment on the incident.

A spokesman for the commission said: “It is far too early in our investigations to speculate on what the motives of this man might have been prior to the shooting.”

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