CONFUSION and delays by police and paramedics during killer Derrick Bird's rampage could have cost lives, the coroner at the victims' inquest warned yesterday.

West Cumbria Coroner David Roberts is writing to Home Secretary Theresa May and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley asking them to look into major disaster protocol to prevent similar mistakes.

But he conceded: "People who died did so almost immediately and no ambulance or paramedic was going to save their lives. Those injured had injuries not immediately life threatening."

The coroner's warning came after a jury returned unlawful killing verdicts on Bird's 12 victims and that the gunman took his own life.

Police were not aware that ambulance crews should have been asked to wait at "rendezvous points", the inquest heard.

Instead, 13 ­ambulances, three air ­ambulances and four rapid response vehicles were held back until police declared the area safe.

Giving evidence, Cumbria Police Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham said at no time before Bird died was he willing to declare an area safe for crews.

Meanwhile, a report by West Mercia Assistant Chief Constable Simon Chesterman is expected to urge an overhaul of emergency policy. He said: "We cannot go on with this confusion. The police and ambulance services must get their act together."