What happens when unarmed police meet armed robbers

A policewoman was shot dead yesterday and a second female officer was seriously wounded as they answered a personal alarm call to an armed robbery. Both were unarmed and probationers in their mid-30s with less than two years' service.

The officer who died had no children. The other was in a serious condition in hospital and under armed guard last night. Her injuries were "not life-threatening". Police guard the scene of the shooting in Bradford

Both were wearing body armour as they rushed to a travel agents in the centre of Bradford at about 3.25pm, although they did not know that an armed robbery was taking place.

The woman who died was hit by a single shot. Her colleague was wounded in the shoulder when several other shots were fired.