Witnesses said the man had pointed a gun at a girl before fleeing Sunday night's crash in London Road - which ended with him being shot dead by Norfolk police on the side of the busy main road.

The man was shot next to the A11 near Thetford (Image: East Anglia News Service)

While it has been confirmed a non-police issue firearm was recovered after the shooting, police have not commented on reports that the man had pointed a gun at a girl following the crash.

The initial crash happened in London Road, Thetford (Image: East Anglia News Service)

One witness said they seen the man 'point a gun at a girl' before running through the nearby Redcastle Furze housing estate.

The crash, which happened near the London Road Cemetery at around 8.25pm on December 28, involved a Mercedes van and a Honda Jazz.

The man, shot by police at just before 9pm and pronounced dead before 10.15pm, despite the efforts of emergency services, is thought to have been the driver of the Mercedes.

It is not clear whether the 'girl' the witness claimed had a gun pointed at her was in the Honda Jazz involved in the crash.

But another witness said they had seen a "big man" and "two or three" women........

© Norwich Evening News