A NEIGHBOUR has described trying to save the life of a 27-year-old man who was shot by a cyclist in a residential street.

Merseyside Police sent armed officers to Belle Vale, Liverpool, shortly before 11.30am today after reports the man had been shot by a gunman believed to have been riding a bicycle.

The victim, who was standing close to a parked car in Cornwood Close when the shooting happened, was taken to hospital, but was later pronounced dead.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said she had tried to resuscitate the man after hearing the gunshots.

She said: "It was about 11.15am and I just heard four bangs. I wondered what it was so I went into the garden and saw him lying on the floor in the street.

"I did CPR. It's hard seeing someone you know like that. He is a local lad and I know his family. He's a nice lad."

On Sunday afternoon, a large section of the street was cordoned off by police and a number of officers in forensic suits were on the scene.

A forensic tent was set up next to a white Vauxhall car, parked opposite terraced houses.

Children could be seen coming in and out of some of the houses on the close.

A police spokesman said the gunman was believed have been dressed all in black with a high-vis orange jacket, and made off on the pedal bike in the direction of Loxwood Close.

He was said to have been in his late 20s and of medium build.

Detective Chief Superintendent Natalie Perischine said: "The investigation into this shocking incident is in its very early stages, and we are keen to speak to anyone who may have information which could help us establish the full circumstances and find those responsible.

"You may have seen or heard suspicious behaviour in Cornwood Close or nearby in Belle Vale and any information, no matter how small you think it may be, could prove crucial as we seek to establish what happened and bring those responsible to justice.

"We share the community's shock that this could happen in a residential street in broad daylight late on a Sunday morning.

"I want to reassure the public that gun crime will not be tolerated on the streets of Merseyside at any time of day, and that we will thoroughly investigate any information given to us so we can put anyone who carries guns on our streets behind bars."

Anyone with information should call Merseyside Police on 101 quoting reference 420 of 7/10/18 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

They can also message the force through social media via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC.