Gunshots shattered the early morning silence as a church congregation prepared for worship on Good Friday.

Many people woke to the sound of sirens as police surrounded St Peter's Church in Brighton.

Witnesses described hearing several shots before an escaped prisoner was hit by a single bullet from a police marksman.

This was the latest incident in which Sussex Police have shot a suspect.

Officers from the force's firearms squad have been involved in several shooting incidents during the last 20 years.

Perhaps the most high-profile case was the shooting of convicted killer James Ashley in January 1998.

Naked and unarmed, Mr Ashley was shot dead during a swoop on his home in Western Road, St Leonards.

Police wanted to question him in connection with attempted murder. Marksman PC Chris Sherwood was cleared of unlawful killing at the Old Bailey and three senior officers were cleared of misconduct charges.

Mr Ashley's family have never been satisfied with police handling of the raid.

During yesterday's incident, police tried negotiations before an officer fired a shot at the suspect.

Neil Tideswell, who lives in Blake Court opposite the church, was alerted when he heard a sound "like a car crashing" outside his home.

He said: "I went outside and saw the police armed response unit pointing their guns towards the scaffolding. I couldn't believe it."

Mr Tideswell looked on in astonishment as he caught sight of the gunman silhouetted against police torches.

"The police were shouting at him to put the gun down and climb off the scaffolding. The guy let off shots.

"It sounded like a small- calibre gun. I couldn't see if he was pointing it at anyone."

Armed response units held their nerve and repeatedly asked the gunman to give himself up before they fired the shot.

Mr Tideswell said: "They obviously knew him because they were calling him by his first name.

"One of the armed response unit team moved round to the other side of the scaffolding.

"Then they gave him a third warning."

When this brought no response from the gunman, police took the ultimate decision to end the stand off.

Mr Tideswell said: "Suddenly the torches went out and he was given a final warning.

"There was just one shot by the police."

According to Mr Tideswell, the wounded gunman took his jumper off and then tried to climb higher up the scaffolding before being overpowered by police officers.

He said: "They gave him some medical attention then the ambulance took him off to hospital."

Other residents living nearby were woken by the crack of gunfire.

One woman, whose flat overlooks the scene, thought a drugs shooting was taking place outside her window.

Gina, 33, who only wanted to be known by her first name, said: "I was asleep and I just woke up because I heard a loud shot.

"I was half asleep and then I heard a noise out there, people shouting. I went out and saw the police.

"They were shouting at people who were coming from clubs and pubs to go away but the people didn't care.

"I heard one shot and I think I heard others but they sounded different, possibly more muffled. I was half asleep at the time.

"I'm from Slovakia and my mum has just come to visit me. It's funny because she has been worried about me being here and I have told her it's fine and she comes here and this happens.

"But I know the police are really good in Brighton so I wasn't really scared. We were just thinking, the poor priest, it's Good Friday and he can't have his Mass."

Most people in neighbouring flats slept through the drama, which began just after 1am. They only realised what happened when they opened their curtains hours later and saw reams of blue and white police tape stretched across the streets.

Dagi Dikibo, 26, also of Richmond Place, said: "I just heard about it on the radio but I didn't believe it was here until I came outside. I've just moved to Brighton so this is a bit of a surprise."

Fern Camara, who lives nearby in Foundry Street, said: "Nothing surprises me in Brighton any more.

"But it has got worse if it's guns - that is terrible. It has just got busier and more stuff is happening now.

"I was amazed when I came out this morning that it was so quiet but it's probably because the road was closed.

"Because I live here I wanted to know what had happened, if it was a bomb or something.

"But I'm not moving because I love it here."

St Peter's Church, the nearest building Brighton has to a cathedral, was in the midst of one of its most important weekends of the year.

Hours before the shooting it was holding its annual service to mark Maundy Thursday.

With the last congregation members gone, priest Father Michael Wells locked up and left the building. All was quiet by 10.30pm.

When the verger Jo Donovan arrived at the church the next morning she could not get near the building as police had cordoned off the area.

The flower arranger turned up soon after, also unsure of what was happening.

But with just a couple of hours to go before the day's first service - Stations of the Cross - Ms Donovan was given the go-ahead to open up.

She said: "There was a chance we wouldn't have been able to use the church so we rang St Martin's so we could go there if necessary.

"I thought we would just take each thing as it comes.

"Luckily when we got here we were told we could use the London Road door.

"This is all a bit unreal. I think we're quite relieved really.

"At least we're open. It could have been a lot worse."

The church distributes about 200 meal vouchers to the homeless each month.

Fr Wells is determined that violence - even shootings - will not deter him from doing his duty.

He said: "We are a beacon of hope for people so we try to stay open as often as possible. Something like this isn't going to change that."

Most businesses near St Peter's were closed for the religious day yesterday.

Staff working in those that opened were shocked by the shooting but said crime was a problem in the area.

John Kitts, who runs the E-Horizon internet cafe, said: "Crime is shocking round here with all the winos and druggies wandering about.

"Mainly it's vandalism and fights breaking out all the time. It's a mess."

Chris Balchin, who works in Baker St Bikes, agreed and wished the police could react to the day-to-day crime with as much speed as they dealt with the gunman.

He said: "You see beggars and drunks and drug dealers all around the streets every day.

"The police are also very slow to respond. They don't turn up until hours after you have phoned them.

"It gets to the point where you don't even bother to phone them."

Damien Stent, who runs The Naff Caff, was more upbeat about his neighbourhood.

He said: "I have had a few run-ins with various people but nothing serious.

"I'm not shocked to hear that someone has been shot - it doesn't worry me.

"I live and work in the area and a lot of the problems are more perceived than real.

"It's not that bad really."