A YOUNG Kidderminster judo champ has spoken of the frightening moment she was awoken by gunshots during the Spanish terror attacks.

Darcie Hancocks was at her hotel in the seaside resort of Cambrils in the early hours of Friday (August 18) morning when Spanish police opened fire on five suspected terrorists.

The 15-year-old Bewdley High School pupil, is at a major judo camp, along with other British and international fighters close to where the shootings took place.

Darcie said she was left shaken by the incident and immediately called her worried parents Ben and Susan to tell them what had happened.

Fortunately her coaches, who witnessed the shootings, returned to the hotel safe and checked on Darcie and her teammates.

Darcie, who is the current English and Welsh judo champion, said: “I was asleep in my hotel room when I was woken up by the sound of gun shots.

“It was in the early hours of the morning and it all seemed like it was a dream. We couldn’t believe what was going on. We were all very scared.

“It was a relief when our coaches returned to the hotel as they had been out where the shootings had taken place and witnessed it. They explained what was going on.

“There were armed police, helicopters, ambulances everywhere. We stayed in the hotel for most of the next day as we couldn’t go out.

“Some of the teams went home after the incident. It was hard to concentrate on the camp at first but everyone is alright, although we are looking forward to getting home. It all seems so unreal.”

Mr Hancocks said his daughter’s phone call had left him frantic and he wanted to fly out there and bring here home.

He said: “I received a call from Darcie between 1 and 2am saying people had been shot near where she was.

“I told Darcie on the phone to stay indoors and take police advice. She sounded ok albeit a little nervous.

“In the hours that followed my wife and I were frantically trying to call Darcie but her phone was not responding.

“Eventually I got through around 8am and Darcie said she was ok but concerned. The area was in lock down and the police kept everyone indoors.

“I tried to make arrangements to fly to Spain to get Darcie but was advised not to and that the police had made the area as safe as they possibly could.

“We are now in constant communication with Darcie and cannot wait for her to get back home. We are still feeling extremely concerned and will not be able to relax or sleep properly until she is safely at home with us.”