Workmen were 'shaken' by the incident as the window of an excavator was shattered, police say
Carmelo Garcia Local democracy reporter
12:36, 15 Jan 2026Updated 12:37, 15 Jan 2026
People in 'England’s prettiest street' were warned a 'gunman was on the loose' after a report of a suspected shooting at a property at the centre of a planning row in the Cotswolds.
Armed police were sent to Bibury on Monday morning (January 12) after a report that the window on an excavator shattered in the presence of workmen who were "shaken" by the incident.
A source close to the Rosemary Cottage development told GloucestershireLive that contractors were "shot at with a rifle" while contractors were on site and starting work at around 8.15am.
Armed officers were deployed, with support from sniffer dogs and drone units due to the initial report.
However, police say nobody has confirmed that any shots were heard and no projectile has been found. Gloucestershire Constabulary is currently treating the incident as a report of criminal damage.
The force is urging anyone with information which they have not shared with officers to contact them.
The site has been at the centre of a row as villagers claim the area is being wrecked after years of construction works amid complaints over noise, verge erosion and the road to their homes being blocked on a daily basis.
A source close to the development claims contractors have faced high levels of verbal abuse since work at the site began.
Bibury residents say they are appalled by the reported incident.
A separate source said people in Arlington Row, which is widely regarded as the most beautiful street in England, were being told to stay inside by police.
They said one couple, who were staying in one of the cottages, were trying to go home and "were told, 'no you can't go yet, you've got to go back inside because we are worried about a gunman being on the loose'."
“We are appalled that this could happen,” one resident who did not wish to be named said.
“It’s one thing to put in a planning objection but it’s another thing altogether to do something as dangerous and as nasty as this.”
Another source in the village said they witnessed the armed police arriving in Bibury.
“I saw police cars going up Hawkers Hill,” they said.
“Armed police came out and there were five or six vehicles. They said someone had reported an armed person in the vicinity of Rosemary Cottage which, of course, is very sensitive.”
Police say they are investigating a report of criminal damage after reports that a window on an excavator shattered in the presence of workmen.
A Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesperson said: “This happened in the grounds of a private property at around 8.30am.
“Initial investigations have found damage to the window frame of the excavator and whilst the workmen were shaken by what had happened, no-one was injured.
“Officers conducted a search of the area. At present, no suspect has been identified.
“CCTV and house-to-house enquiries, as well as forensic examinations, are ongoing to identify what was used to cause the damage.
“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and investigating officers are now asking anyone with information, who hasn't already spoken to police, to make contact.”
Information can be provided to police online by completing this form and quoting incident 87 of 12 January.