Friends of a woman left for dead by Cumbrian gunman Derrick Bird say she is making an ‘amazing recovery’.

Mum-of-two Fiona Moretta, 52, from Haworth Street, Rishton, has been released from hospital following her traumatic ordeal.

She was out for a walk during a holiday near the village of Boot, in Cumbria, when Bird drove past her - then reversed.

He then told her he was going to kill himself before blasting her in the head, leaving her with a broken jaw and shrapnel lodged in her throat.

Ms Moretta, who works as a respite carer looking after children and elderly people with disabilities, managed to flag down passing motorists, including an off-duty consultant.

She was initially in a critical condition but, after a tracheotomy operation to free her airway, is now recovering well.

The Rishton Methodist Church steward was on a week-long break with friends and out for a walk from her accommodation in Boot to Eskdale Green.

Friend Pam Marsden was staying with her in Cumbria with a group of friends from tai chi classes when the shootings occurred.

Pam said: "I've been seeing her face-to-face. It’s been difficult because she couldn’t speak until she had the tracheotomy.

"Fiona has recovered fantastically. One of the two ladies who first helped her was a consultant and she said how calm she was even though she would have been in terrible pain.

"I’ve known Fiona for about two years. She is a brilliant person and is always there to help others, has a great spirit and a fantastic sense of humour."

She was confident that her friend would come through her terrible ordeal.

"If you’re angry about it then you cannot let it go," she said. "But I don’t think she would think about what ifs and why nots. It’s about accepting it and moving forward."

It is thought that after shooting Ms Moretta, Bird shot and injured three other people in Boot before shooting himself nearby.

His rampage left 12 dead and 11 critically injured.

Residents on Haworth Street said they were shocked when they learned that their neighbour had been caught up in the mayhem.

Pat Chisholm has known her for about five years, and her brother was hosting Fiona’s brother Gary in Johannesburg where he is supporting England in the World Cup.

Mrs Chisholm said: "The police came to the house with her sons and they told all the neighbours. One of them came running across the road and said ‘Fiona has been shot’. We rang my brother in Africa and we didn’t know if Gary knew about Fiona. Thankfully we know that he has now been in touch with everybody."

Another neighbour said: "We all said we will look after her when she comes back.

"How can you be yourself after that? It has not even been two weeks. As far as we know she is doing alright. We’ve told her the whole street will be here for her."

Another added: "It’s a bit of a shock when you are walking down a country lane isn’t it. It’s terrible what happened."