A STOURBRIDGE businessman left the Promenade des Anglais in Nice just minutes before it was turned into a scene of carnage by a truck driving terrorist.

Ian King, sales director for Sadler’s Brewery in Lye, was halfway through a two-week holiday in the French Riviera resort when Bastille Day celebrations on the seafront were brought to an horrific end.

A total of 84 people are reported to have been killed, and 50 critically injured, after a large lorry ploughed into crowds on the promenade which had been packed with holidaymakers and families enjoying France’s national holiday.

Mr King, who had been enjoying the celebrations with his family shortly before the atrocity, said the attack had left the beachside city in lockdown and he described the mood in Nice today (Friday) as “very on edge”.

He said: “We were on the Promenade des Anglais shortly before it happened as we decided to head up the short distance to the apartment directly above the old town for a family meal at home.

“We could see from our apartment the fireworks and then the ensuing chaos.

"It was very scary.

“We are all in total shock today to be honest. Nice is in lockdown. It’s very, very sad. It’s such a beautiful place as well.”

Ian, from Pedmore, said the Bastille Day festivities were very nearly cancelled due to high winds yesterday afternoon and he added: “I wish they had.”

Today – the city was swarming with police and the military, he said.

“We’ve just ventured out to get food from Leclerc. It’s taken 40 minutes to get to the supermarket – a journey that usually takes ten minutes. There are police and military everywhere. The French are on a knife-edge.

“I just feel so devastated for the innocent victims.

“These extremists must be held to account in the defence of our freedom and democracy.”

The driver of the lorry was shot dead by police at the scene - with French media reports identifying him as a French-Tunisian delivery driver named Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel.