COMMUNITY leaders in Worcestershire have spoken of their shock at the mass Orlando killings - calling it "disgusting".

Worcester MP Robin Walker has urged Britain to unite with its allies in the world to re-double efforts to tackle terror - while a leading county LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual) campaigner called the shootings "abhorrent".

Some leading county figures have urged America to finally tackle its gun laws stand-off while the Bishop of Worcester has called the atrocity "senseless and hideous".

On Sunday gunman Omar Mateen, known to US security forces since 2013, opened fire in a gay nightclub called 'Pulse', killing 49 people and wounding another 53.

He was then killed by police in the deadliest mass shootings in recent US history.

LGBT campaigner Councillor Joseph Baker is a member of Worcestershire County Council and the current Mayor of Redditch.

"It's shocking, disgusting, abhorrent - this goes to show that no community is safe from terrorism," he said.

"I just feel so sorry for all of those families who will never see their loved ones come home again.

"I couldn't believe it, it was very distressing to hear. For the gay community it's like going back to the 1970s and 1980s."

Former Worcester publican Trevor Westbury, 40, who is gay and regularly takes part in the Birmingham Pride event, said: "A lot of good things have happened to accept gay people in many parts of the world in the last 20 years.

"This will not and cannot change that. It's one nutter with a gun, but it's shocking - America should have changed their gun laws years ago."

Worcester Warriors chief executive Jim O'Toole has also called for tighter gun laws in America.

He tweeted: "One hundred people's families destroyed - cue platitudes about praying for victims - just ban the guns, America."

Robin Walker said he was left "horrified" by the television footage.

"I am horrified by these vicious and unprovoked attacks," he said.

"As we saw in Paris last year the indiscriminate murder of innocent civilians is something of which a few sad people seem to be proud.

"We should unite with all our allies in the free world in condemning such atrocities as well as taking on the criminal networks that support them.

"No religion justifies such a callous disregard for human life, and anyone who carries out such an act in the name of their religion does only harm to the cause they espouse."

The Very Rev Dr John Inge, the Bishop of Worcester, said: "I am appalled by what has taken place in Orlando.

"May those who have died rest in peace and their relatives and friends be given God's grace and hope in their grief.

"My prayers are with all those affected by this outrage - this senseless and hideous killing is a wakeup call to the American nation on the dangers of their attitude to guns.

"It is a wakeup call, too, for all of us in the civilised world who care about tolerance, freedom, peace and equity; we need to renew our commitment to these values and be prepared to stand up for them."

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, added: "This was an appalling terrorist hate crime and my thoughts and prayers go out to all of the loved ones of those who lost their lives.

"I strongly support the much tighter gun controls we have in the UK.

"I would also like to express my gratitude to our police and security services who were so vigilant during our weekend of celebrations for the Queen's birthday.

"They work so hard to keep us safe and we can see from this terrible atrocity that we do all need to observe a heightened vigilance."

The so-called Islamic State group (IS) has called Omar Mateen one of its soldiers.

FBI officials today said the 29-year-old appeared to "have leanings towards" radical Islamist ideology.