Ridley pair shot in Mumbai cafe horror

From hospital his wife said: "All of a sudden there was automatic gunfire. The whole place fell apart.

"It was tremendously loud. My husband and I were hit, as were lots of people. Everybody was down on the ground. The gunfire stopped for a few seconds then started again.

"We had to wait - it seemed like an age - for the police to arrive. I stayed with my husband because I could tell he was seriously injured. He was losing consciousness."

The couple were among hundreds of people injured as the city came under attacks which have left more than 100 dead, including at least one Briton.

Mrs Murphy is a retired primary school teacher, who worked at Lowgate Primary School near Haydon Bridge, while Mr Murphy retired last year as a part- time teacher at Haydon Bridge High School. He was also the warden of education centre Ridley Hall in Northumberland.

The couple have three children, Graham, 31, Colin, 24, and Heather, 23. The couple's son Graham is married to Jane.

Her father Eddie, 61, a joiner, said: "They have been out in India for four weeks and had just arrived in Mumbai the day before they were injured.

"They had been planning their five- week trip for months and since they have both retired they travel a lot.

"We really don't know any more about their condition. We are very anxious to hear that they are getting better, but at the minute it is just devastating.

"They are a lovely family and it is a terrible and trying time for all of us."

Last night, friend and former colleague, Clive Booth, 53, manager of the Horticultural Training Centre at Ridley Hall, said: "We heard the news about Mike and his wife and everyone is really anxious to know how they are doing.

"Mike retired last year but remained a very popular figure in the area. I worked alongside him for 15 years and he was a reliable and very likeable man.

"He loves the outdoors and spent a lot of his spare time taking children from the hall on trips away.

"The Murphys holiday abroad regularly, so it was no surprise that he was out in India."

Neighbour Edwin James added: "They are good neighbours, they have lived here for more than 10 years. I just hope that they get well soon and get back home safely."