Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris and Chudleigh Councillor Doug Hellier Laing were in Westminster when a policeman was stabbed, his attacker shot and a car mowed down pedestrians on a nearby bridge.

Anne Marie, who was in the Houses of Parliament at the time, confirmed she was safe and was locked in the building for her own safety.

At the time she said to the Mid-Devon Advertiser: ‘We are all locked in while the search continues.

‘It is calm. Everyone wants to get out and go home.’

Chudleigh member Cllr Laing was attending a conference at the nearby QEII Centre when the drama unfolded.

He said the centre manager came into the conference and told the group they had to be evacuated after a ‘suspect package’ discovered.

He said as he was walking out of the building there was police helicopters and vehicles were everywhere.

The group at the conference were unaware of what was happening and Cllr Laing said he was told a four-by-four vehicle had driven into Westminster Bridge.

Eight arrests have been made in London and Birmingham following the attack which police are treating as a terrorist incident.