UPDATE/ VIDEO 1.22pm: Man dies after being found shot in Manchester Road, Westhoughton

The 28-year-old was discovered in Manchester Road, Westhoughton with life-threatening gunshot wounds by police at around 11pm last night.

It is understood he was shot in the head. 

The victim is being named locally as Michael Blake.

It is thought he was taken away from the scene in a vehicle, before later being found back in Manchester Road with the fatal gunshot wounds.

LIVE: Fatal shooting - Police press conference

He was discovered outside one of a row of terraced houses just to the south of the railway bridge in Manchester Road, Westhoughton.

He was discovered by officers, who were called to what was initially reported as a hit and run road accident.

He was taken to hospital where he later died.

While locals have named the victim as a Michael Blake, neighbours have reported a man in the area knocking on doors around 11pm and demanding to speak to someone called 'Marcus.'

CONFIRMED: Fatal shooting victim is Michael Blake, 28, who was 'shot in back of head' after 'unknown man' knocked at his door

One resident, who didn't wish to be named, said: "There was a man banging down my neighbours door just before 11pm, he said that when he answered the man asked to speak to Marcus.

"When my neighbour said there was no one there with that name, he moved on to another house, he had a white van with black tinted windows."

A crime scene tent has been set up outside a property on the street.

Our reporter at the scene says people living near to the house are currently unable to leave their homes.

Crime scene investigators have arrived at the scene and have spent time looking in a tent located in the middle of a small side street before looking at the entrance to the last terraced house. 

Michael Blake

It has been over 12 hours since the incident happened and residents nearby are still arriving at the scene looking confused and shocked.

A man who lives in the next road said: "I didn't hear anything at all in the night so to wake up this morning and see this was a shock.

"Don't get me wrong there's crime in Westhoughton but nothing like this.

"You just don't expect someone to be killed on your doorstep."

Detective Superintendent Jon Chadwick, head of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “We are very much in the early stages of our investigation and we’re working to establish exactly what has happened to this man.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have any information about the circumstances leading up to him being found by police."

People have been paying tribute online to the Mr Blake, known as Blakey. 

mcalfie12 wrote: "R.I.P. condolences to his family."

Paying tribute on Facebook, Jimbo Killeen said: "R.I.P blakey bro be sadly missed by many people out there."

Nicola Sinclair wrote: "Horrible start to the day absolutely devastated. RIP big man going sadly missed."

Shanice Anderson said: "Such sad news rip Blakey thinking of your family and friends."

Local residents spoke of their shock after hearing about the incident.

One woman said: "I can't believe it, it's not something that you would expect to happen on your doorstep."

Another passerby who has lived in the area his whole life said nothing like this had happened before.

He added: "We knew the road was closed but had no idea that something this serious had happened.

"It's usually so peaceful around here, it's a shock."

One of the lines of enquiry is whether the victim was shot where he was found.

It is understood a 999 call was received by police claiming there had been a hit-and-run involving a car and a pedestrian.

When officers arrived they found no signs of a collision but discovered the wounded man.

A spokeswoman for North West Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 10.57pm last night.

"It was reported as an injured male.

"We arrived on the scene at 11.03pm and took a patient to the Salford Royal Hospital."

The road was closed both ways between the junctions of A6027 De Havilland Way and A58 Park Road in Westhoughton.

Scene of the incident 

The road has been closed since the early hours of this morning and a stretch between Metal Box Way and Church Street remains shut.

The incident is causing severe delays. 

The Gates Primary School remains open the site can be accessed from Trackside Avenue.

However, police officers guarding the cordon informed parents turning up this morning with their children that the road would be shut for at least the next five hours.

Anybody with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 2426 of 03/11/16, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.