A Slough Hockey Club player, who was in the Palace of Westminster at the time of last week’s terror attack, has spoken out about the ordeal.

Speaking to the Observer, Juliette Inverdale, 22, who is the executive officer for Derek Thomas, the MP for St Ives and the Isle of Scilly, said she and her colleagues heard a splash when a woman, who was struck by Khalid Masood, fell into the River Thames.

She said: “At the time we originally thought someone had committed suicide, which is bad enough.

“We heard the splash as the woman hit the water, and we then heard screams and the gunshot that followed afterwards.

“It was quite difficult at the time because we didn’t know what was going on.”

Miss Inverdale, who is the daughter of BBC Sport’s John Inverdale, told the Observer all the staff and guests inside Parliament were on lockdown for three hours in their offices and then a further one-and-a-half hours inside the chamber.

More than a week on, Miss Inverdale said the attack had ‘tarnished’ the sight of Westminster Bridge for her, which she often walks on to and from work.

She added: “I walked over the bridge the day after it happened. That was very sad.

“I think it’s one of the most beautiful sights in London and there’s now this nastiness tarnishing it. It’s a real shame.

“People won’t forget what happened but there is a need to move on and put it behind us.

“We need to learn from what happened and make some changes, but not let it tarnish the image of the place.”