Police in Cumbria have offered their condolences to all those affected by the terror attack which which brought death and destruction to the heart of London.

Assistant chief constable Sean Robinson also wanted to assure Cumbrians in the wake of the attack.

He said: “The thoughts of all officers and staff at Cumbria Constabulary are with all those affected by yesterday’s events in London, including the family of our Metropolitan Police colleague who lost his life.

“Public safety, as always, remains our priority. Whilst there is no specific threat to the county, we would urge everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us on 101."

Cumbria's former chief constable Craig Mackey has said nothing prepares people for the reality of what happened in London yesterday.

Mr Mackey, Scotland Yard's acting commissioner, was speaking following a minute's silence to commemorate the three innocent people killed.

The nation fell silent at 9.33am - a time chosen in honour of murdered PC Keith Palmer's shoulder number.

Aysha Frade was the first member of the public to be identified as a victim, with her principal at DLD College London describing her as "highly regarded and loved".

US tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, also died after the attacker - Khalid Masood - ploughed a car through pedestrians on Westminister Bridge, before storming the Parliamentary estate.

A 75-year-old man died on Thursday night.

The attacker, who had been investigated some years ago over violent extremism, was shot dead by armed police.

Mr Mackey, who as at the scene of the incident and he is being treated as a "significant witness", thanked colleagues for attending in remembrance of PC Keith Palmer, the other victims and all those affected by the terrible events.

"The support of Londoners and this wonderful community ensures that we can do the job we are entrusted to do within keeping London safe," he said.

"You have heard about the investigation that is ongoing and we have spoken about the reassurance work and high-visibility patrols we are doing across London.

"We need the public's help. The police are the public and the public are the police."

Mr Mackey urged anyone with concerns to talk to police and said that officers were making sure the response was of the highest calibre.

He said he would be attending a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee later today for an update on the response.

"The work we have done over many years practising and exercising for scenarios like yesterday has helped.

"But nothing prepares people and nothing prepares family for the reality of what occurred yesterday."

It came as British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed extra patrols has been stepped up across the country - with some at Carlisle Railway Station - to offer the public reassurance.

A spokeswoman said: "Extra BTP officers are on hand across the country following yesterday’s incident at Westminster.

"We know incidents such as this cause concern, so our officers will be highly visible and are offering reassurance."

Earlier today Tim Farron, South Lakes MP and leader of the Liberal Democrats, spoke of the spirit in London as Parliament put on a show of stoic defiance less than 24 hours after a terror attack brought death and destruction to the heart of London.

He said that while London was quite this morning, as the area remained cordoned off, passersby greeted one another in the streets which yesterday playing unwilling host to the massacre, which killed three innocent people and left 29 seriously injured in hospital.

MPs, including those from Cumbria, will attempt to go about their daily duties today with both the House of Commons and the House of Lords sitting at their normal times.

Mr Farron said: "Everybody you go past says hello to you.

"There is a real sense of people understanding that everybody else feels deeply troubled by what has happened.

"I'm not quite sure how I feel about it at the moment. I think it will take some time to sink in.

"Fundamentally, you just think of Keith Palmer. He was not someone I knew personally but he a face you recognised on the gates, a face who stood there and gave you security. He was incredibly nice and polite. It is beyond tragic."

PC Palmer, a member of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Squad, was killed as he tried to stop the attacker at around 2.30pm yesterday, while two members of the public also lost their lives.

Scotland Yard's top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley told reporters six addresses were raided overnight in London, Birmingham and elsewhere.

Twenty-nine people were treated in hospital and seven remained in a critical condition on Thursday following the attack, he added.

Mr Rowley said it was still his belief that the attacker was working alone and had been inspired by "international terrorism", adding that there was no specific information to suggest any further threat to the public.

Cumbrian politicians were among those on lock down at Parliament in the wake of the attack. They described the horrors seen in the capital.

Lord Alf Dubs, Cumbrian Labour Peer, was about to head over to the Lords chambers for their 3pm sitting.

"I looked out of the window and I could see the police cordoning off the streets, ambulances, police cars and so on.

"We had to stay in our offices until further notice so it was several hours we had to wait. That was a minor thing compared to the terrible events that happened," he said.

"I hope this sort of incident doesn't keep people away from Parliament. I hope that we will still stay accessible. We've got to take the risk of being accessible but democracy is about people feeling that the parliament belongs to them."

Morland School from Penrith were on a visit to London yesterday. All pupils and teachers are reported to be safe and well.

The Prime Minister, who was in Parliament at the time of the attack, praised the bravery of police officers who killed the attacker as he sought another victim.

Today she told MPs the attacker was a "peripheral" figure, adding: "He was not part of the current intelligence picture."

Delivering a defiant message to a packed House of Commons, Mrs May said: "We will never waver in the face of terrorism."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland stands in solidarity with London following the "heinous" terrorist attack on Westminster. Flags were at half-mast at Holyrood as Ms Sturgeon updated MSPs on the situation.

She said: "Many of us in this chamber have friends and colleagues, indeed some of us have family members, who work within the Palace of Westminster - parliamentarians, staff and journalists.

"Yesterday was a harrowing day for all of them and they have our support and good wishes.

"Above all, we stand in solidarity with London - a vibrant, diverse, wonderful city that will never be cowed by mindless acts of violence."

Paramedics fought to save Mr Palmer's life, and that of his attacker, on the floor of the cobbled courtyard in front of Parliament, with Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood among those who rushed to help.

Armed officers, some in plain clothes and wearing balaclavas, swarmed around the yard just feet from where MPs had earlier attended Prime Minister's Questions.

The knifeman drove a grey Hyundai i40 across Westminster Bridge leaving a trail of destruction as paramedics tended to victims on the bridge and at the gate.

One woman hit by the attacker's car before he reached Parliament was confirmed dead by a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital. Another woman who fell into the Thames was rescued and given urgent medical treatment on a nearby pier.

London Ambulance Service said paramedics had treated a number of patients on Westminster Bridge.

A party of French schoolchildren were among those targeted on the bridge, with three injured.

In a press conference, a spokesman for Scotland Yard confirmed that the acting commissioner, Craig Mackey, was at the scene of the incident went it broke out.

"He is being treated as a significant witness," the spokesman said. "Whilst he is not injured, it would be inappropriate for him to be here to talk about the incident at this stage.

"Our thoughts and his thoughts are with all of those involved and responding to that incident this evening."

Mr Mackey is a former chief constable of Cumbria Police, who led the force during the Derrick Bird shootings.