TWO people are in hospital this evening with gunshot wounds after two shootings in Leigh.

Police say they were alerted by North West Ambulance Service at 5.45pm today.

Officers attended Hawthorn Grove and said a shot had been fired at a property.

A man in his 20s was taken to hospital.

A short time later police said they received a report of a second firearm discharge on Shadwell Grove, also in Leigh.

A man in his 30s was taken to hospital.

Detective Superintendent Jamie Daniels said: "We are in the very early stages of our investigation into these incidents but we believe they could be linked.

"We have officers in Leigh carrying out extensive enquiries to establish exactly what has happened. Two people are in hospital with gun-shot wounds and I can assure people that we will leave no stone unturned as we work to find out who is responsible.

"We understand the community will be concerned and, as such, we have deployed extra patrols to reassure them. If you have information that could help us with our investigation, please come forward. Anything said can be done so in confidence or anonymously."

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 9101 or 0943 quoting 2599 26/01/22 or the independent charity - Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.