SEVEN arrests have been made by police investigating shootings in Farnworth and Little Hulton.

Detectives say an underworld dispute between rival gangs is behind the recent incidents last weekend.

The violence began in the early hours on Saturday when a 48-year-old man was hit in the back by a bullet fired through the window of a house in Mossbrook Street, Little Hulton.

Then shots were fired at the windows of homes in nearby Gorse Drive and in Worsley Road, Farnworth, later that day.

But police have ruled out a link between a fourth shooting in Bolton, which happened on Saturday afternoon in Cannon Street, Deane, where a 22-year-old man was shot in the stomach close to Bolton Council of Mosques and the Stonechurch flats.

Senior police officers say another underworld dispute in Salford and Swinton is behind the shooting of a mother and her seven-year-old son at their front door in Gillingham Road, Eccles on Monday night.

The 29-year-old woman and her son answered the door to two men, only to be shot in the legs. They are in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Detectives are now hunting a white man, aged between 19 and 20-years-old, of ‘chunky’ build who wore a baseball cap and spoke with a Salford accent, and another white man also wearing a baseball cap.

This shooting has also been linked to the murder of underworld boss Paul Massey in July, with a reward of £50,000 being offered for information about the appeal on BBC's Crimewatch show.

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Hopkins urged people to come forward before innocent people are killed.

He said: “The shootings that have happened are clearly part of two distinct feuds between organised crime groups, one in the Little Hulton area and the second in the Swinton and Central Salford areas, which includes the murder of Paul Massey.

“We believe the sickening events of last night are linked to the dispute around Swinton and central Salford.

“This morning we have made seven arrests this morning and last month we arrested 24 and charged 22 people in relation to the organised crime dispute in Little Hulton. We are, and will continue, to work with Salford City Council to try and prevent further incidents.

“The vast majority of people in Salford are law abiding citizens who are very proud of the city and will also be sickened by this horrific attack. However, there is still a core of people in Salford who are prepared to use firearms to threaten people and sort out disputes between crime groups. This is clearly putting the wider public at risk."

Police have launched a dedicated hotline which can be reached on 0161 856 9775. People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.