Officers had first been alerted by a call from Mr Murden's father, David, saying he was concerned his son had left their home in Beverley, East Yorkshire, and was possibly suffering from a 'psychotic incident'.

During a series of phone calls to emergency doctors and police David Murden said he was worried his son had smoked some strong cannabis.

He also told a doctor his son was "threatening to kill the first person who comes in through his door".

Simon Murden was later spotted driving the wrong way down the A63 trunk road away from Hull before he crashed into a car, the hearing has heard.

He continued on foot and was eventually shot by two officers outside a Little Chef restaurant, near the village of South Cave.

Today, David Murden was asked by Michael Topolski QC, representing his family, whether he felt partly responsible for his son's death because of the calls.

He bowed his head and began to cry as he replied "yes".

Mr Topolski then asked him if he stood by a statement he made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission stating he could tell from the voices of those he spoke to at the police that morning that "things were spiralling out of control".

Again, through tears, he replied "yes".

At the end of his evidence to the inquest, Mr Murden said: "I'm not seeking any vengeance and I'm not vindictive against the police. We need them and we're very law abiding.

"I want to see why Simon had to be treated in the way he was - why there was no alternative methods."

Yesterday the inquest heard armed officers were authorised following reports Simon Murden was carrying something that might be a firearm.

The charity worker, who worked for a charity selling products created in craft projects in Africa, was later found to have been holding a notebook and three African swords.
The inquest continues.