THE INQUEST INTO THE DEATHS of 13 people during a shooting rampage in Cumbria, England, last summer has heard that the gunman did not respond to repeated attempts to contact him by phone and by text.

Former taxi driver Derrick Bird, 52, shot 12 people dead and injured 11 others before killing himself on 2 June 2010.

Police negotiator Inspector Craig Lory gave evidence today, saying he phoned Bird repeatedly and sent him messages asking him to stop what he was doing, the BBC reports.

Lory said he received no reply.

The inquest also heard from Paul Wilson, a taxi driver who was shot in the face by Bird. Wilson said he thought Bird was playing a trick on him, until he realised he was bleeding, according to the Guardian. Witnesses to the shootings said Bird never said a word and appeared calm as he raised the gun to his victims.

The inquest heard earlier that he had drawn victims over to his car by beckoning them as if to ask them the time.

It also heard he drove around and repeatedly left his car and changed his weapon to shoot victims fatally at a close range.