AN officer on duty during that fateful day 30 years ago, when the IRA planted two bombs that were detonated on Bridge Street in the town centre, appeared this morning at the touching memorial to remember the victims of the attack.

Peter Hampson, was one of four officers working a shift in the town centre that morning, nearby when the bombs exploded on the high street, taking the lives of Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball.

The former constable recalled the moment he was alerted to the tragedy.

“I was on an eight, four shift that day. I had gone into the police station to collect my lunch when the bombs went off.

“I ran from the police station after hearing that the bombs had gone off. It was only minutes after both had gone off and I was the fourth PC there.”

“There were people rendering first aid to young Tim. All the wounded went outside the market.”

Warrington Guardian: Peter HampsonPeter Hampson (Image: Newsquest)

Peter described the chaos of the streets and the urgent attempt to try and usher people away from the town centre with uncertainty as to what would happen next.

“We did not know if there would be a third or fourth bomb,” he added.

“My shift finished at 4pm and I got home at 5am.”

Speaking on the aftermath of the bombings, Peter explained how police presence was raised in the town for weeks to build confidence of safety within the community.

“There was a huge police presence for weeks after and they brought officers in from all over Cheshire.

“The whole town centre was a crime scene for weeks,” he said.

Peter, who completed 50 years of service for Cheshire Police, said at the time of the tragedy he had reached 30 years of service.

“I did 30 years in the service and that was one thing that has stayed with me.”

The admirable constable retired for a short period of time before applying his free time to the Museum of Policing in Warrington, which he still does to this day and has given his time to for more than 15 years.