A WOMAN has described her shock as a gunman opened fire near a Christmas market in France, killing three people.

Jill Riches, from Leigh, works as an EU interpreter and had been in Strasbourg since Monday.

French police say a large-scale manhunt is under way for a suspected extremist gunman.

It has been labelled as a terror investigation.

Mrs Riches said: "I had arranged to meet three colleagues for dinner because we don't see each other that often. It was about 7.30pm and we hadn't even ordered anything when all of a sudden we heard gunshots and screams.

"One of my friends is from California so she knew it was gunfire and nothing else.

"We saw bars and restaurants immediately turn their lights off and lots of people were running past in the street.

"The restaurant owner told us to stay inside and not try and leave."

Mrs Riches, who also runs a card shop in Leigh, added: "I don't really know what was going through my mind - I thought: 'This something that happens to other people.'

"We heard shots and screams and saw people, including the gunman, run past.

"Then we saw all the ambulances coming to treat people who had been shot and soon after police arrived and cordoned off the main square."

The 64-year-old added: "I found out later that area was used to collect and treat any victims.

"I eventually decided I had to leave and made my way back to my hotel and as I left, I could see forensics analysing bullet marks just 20 yards either side of the restaurant I was in.

"The entire city is in a state of shock at the moment. The mood is very sombre and all the public buildings have their flags at half mast.

"I feel so sorry for those who were killed."

Police say the 29-year-old alleged gunman, from the city in eastern France, has served prison sentences in France and Germany for common law offences and exchanged fire with law enforcement as he "sowed terror".

In the wake of the attack, which has also left 11 injured, of which five are in a critical condition, the French government has increased its security alert system Vigipirate to its highest level.