Families of reporters describe events in Nice

Garry Crow, 49, and his wife Sue, 50, arrived at the city on Sunday having booked a hotel previously, still deciding to visit after the attack which killed 84 people.

They described the scene full of ‘police and soldiers’ with ‘stains’ on the street, and ‘crying, shouting and anger’.

Mr Crow said: “Sadly after the event I was really concerned about the visit. While life is going on it has an air of anxiousness. The flowers continue to come and are a stark reminder.

“While we have been looking forward to Nice we have been greeted for all the right reasons by police and soldiers so it is difficult to switch off and relax. I attended the ceremony to pay my respects which culminated in silence followed by clapping and then whistles, and then shouts of anger.”

Mrs Crow added: “The trip has been very sombre and very much tinged with sadness. The Prime Minster’s speech brought a lot of mixed emotions from people - crying, shouting, and anger as people shouted ‘protect our people’.

“We’ve seen stains along the promenade where people were killed - the blood is gone but the stains will be there a long time. I am glad we’re here though as a mark of solidarity. Never mind Brexit - the world needs to stand strong together against terrorism.”

James and Shelley Drummond both retired and moved from England in 2014, to a town 30 minutes from Nice.

Mrs Drummond said: “It was sad and shocking to learn about the events in Nice, the third terrorist attack since we moved here. This felt different, however. Maybe it was because it was so much closer to home. Perhaps it was because it was Bastille Day, a day we always look forward to because it is so full of fun and celebration only to be ended with scenes of horror and carnage.

“I, like others, still feel in shock. Less than a week has passed. Life goes on but a little bit of the magic of this special place has been lost, hopefully not forever.”

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