'One moment woman was having drink in our pub...next she'd been shot dead'

Village landlady tells of Valentine's Day gun killer horror

- By Stephen Beech

THE landlady of a pub where a woman was shot dead on Valentine's Day has said the victim was enjoying a drink moments earlier.

The woman, in her 40s, was gunned down in the car park outside The Three Horseshoes - a picturesque village pub in the Kent countryside.

The victim, who has not been named but is believed to be a mum of two, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the gunman, understood to be known to the victim, drove off.

A car and firearm were found at the Queen Elizabeth II bridge in Dartford some shouting 14 miles from the pub in Knockholt, near Sevenoaks. It was later reported that a man was spotted on the wrong side of the barrier on Friday night.

Officers believe he may have entered the River Thames underneath.

Landlady Michelle Thomas said the victim had been at the pub drinking that evening. After the woman left, two loud bangs were heard outside at about 7pm. Michelle said she thought they were fireworks at first.