A man has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after eight-year-old boy was killed in firearm incident near Warcop.

On September 28, 2024, eight-year-old Jay Cartmell died after he sustained serious head injuries in an incidentinvolving the discharge of a firearm.

The incident occurred on land not far from the A66, north of Warcop.

Allan Thursby, 64 from Cleator Moor, was arrested on September 28, 2024 and has been on police bail since.

On Tuesday, March 17, Mr Thursby was charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

He was bailed to appear at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on March 26, 2026.