A HAMPSHIRE MP was yards away from a terror attack as chaos descended on Westminster, leaving four dead.

Members of Parliament, staff and the public were thrown into a state of panic after four people were killed near the grounds of parliament yesterday afternoon.

Hampshire MPs have described ‘horrific, shocking’ events, with Southampton and Itchen MP Royston Smith seeing people lying on the floor outside the gates, with armed police rushing to the scene.

A police officer was killed after being stabbed in the terror attack, which officers believe was carried out by one person who is believed to be dead.

MPs were in London for a vote on pension changes, with Prime Minister Theresa May at the House of Commons at the time.

Emergency services flooded the capital, with ambulances and police racing to the scene after the assailant reportedly drove at pedestrians before running through the gates, stabbing police with two large knives.

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said that he heard four shots from "50 or 60 feet away" from the attack inside New Palace Yard.

He said: “I was on my way to the chamber to vote in New Palace Yard where the man broke through the gates. There were four shots and a lot of people on the ground, it all happened very sharply.

“We were ushered safely into the chamber and police were running in the opposite direction very bravely. I was intent on getting myself out pretty quickly.”

The attack comes one year to the day that three coordinated suicide bombings occurred in Brussels, killing 32 people.

The attacks were claimed by so called Islamic State, which injured more than 300 people after the bombings at two airports in Zaventem and one at Maalbeek metro stations at the Belgian capital.

Royston Smith said: “I saw people lying on the floor as I was very close to it and a lot of armed police came over, there was a lot of shouting too, and security. People were lying on the floor near the gates.

“There are a lot of things people think about before death, we were lucky to be safe. I’m not certain if I saw or heard any shots, it just happened very quickly. I never had any time to react, police were just running towards the man.”

Eastleigh MP Mims Davies was told to evacuate by officers after the ‘horrifying’ attack.

She said: “Everyone was in shock. There was shouting from police and we were all told to evacuate over the bridge or on the embankment. Looking at it, there was another incident on the bridge.

“It was very frightening and you’re always aware of your personal safety. The police are working very well, so they clearly know what they are doing and the procedures work well.”

“It’s shocking, horrifying and people from all walks of life are going to be affected by this.”

Julian Lewis, chair of the parliamentary defence committee and New Forest East MP said he was staying away from the corridors and hadn’t heard of an incident until it was reported to him by security.

He said: “I was in my office and I heard a lot of shouting, I didn’t realise something had taken place.

“By coincidence it was on my list to call one of the security personnel. A woman answered in his place and said he was dealing with the incident.”

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has praised the response of the emergency services after an officer was killed.

She said: “It’s shocking what’s happening, and hearing of a fatality is horrendous. We all have limited access locked in the chamber, but from what I understand the response from police has been very swift and effective.”

MP for New Forest West, Desmond Swayne said: “We are horrified by what is going on outside these walls. I have heard from other MPs that when they were on their way from the scene, they all had to get on the ground and basically crawl away.

“I don’t think this calls for more security, you can’t get ten yards without seeing an armed officer.”