Andy Murray has said playing tennis was an “escape” for him after being among the pupils at Dunblane Primary School during the shooting in 1996

Along with his brother Jamie, Andy was at the school when Thomas Hamilton entered the gym hall and killed 16 children and a teacher, before shooting himself.

The tennis star has since spoken about the impact the event had on him, which was also influenced by his family knowing Hamilton and Murray having attended a kids’ club that he ran.

He said: “I am sure for all the kids there it would be difficult for different reasons. The fact we knew the guy, we went to his kids’ club, he had been in our car, we had driven and dropped him off at train stations and things.”

He continued: “Within 12 months of that happening, our parents got divorced. It was a difficult time. To see that and not quite understand what is going on.

“And then six to 12 months after that, my brother also moved away from home. He went away to train to play tennis. We obviously used to do everything together. When he moved away that was also quite hard for me.”

Sir Andy said that around that time and after that, for a year or so, he had “lots of anxiety that came out when I was playing tennis”.

Rest in peace to the 12 children who died that tragic day