A FIREARM was reportedly fired from a car in a street, police said.

An investigation has been launched following the incident yesterday morning.

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Police received reports that a weapon may have been used at around 3am in Countess Street, Accrington.

Neighbours said there was a ‘commotion’ and ‘screeching’ cars could be heard and people ‘running around and shouting’.

Police said they do not think there was any threat to the wider public and no-one was injured.

The incident comes after a shot was fired from a car in Stanhill Street, Oswaldtwistle, last month but police said they did not think the two events were linked.

A resident in nearby Hyndburn Street said: “I was trying to get to sleep and heard cars screeching at around 3am.

“I looked out the window and I could see them chasing up and down the street.

“I also thought I heard gunshots.

“There was quite a commotion. People were running up and down and shouting.

“I didn’t go back to sleep afterwards. You get scared when these things happen.”

An area at the bottom of Countess Street was cordoned off yesterday while forensic investigations were carried out.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen a VW Golf, Mitsubishi Shogun or BMW 1 Series in the area at the time to come forward.

Haleema Sadra, 29, of Hyndburn Street, said: “I thought I heard some screaming but often this street is noisy so I didn’t think much of it.

“I am speechless that a weapon might have been fired. That has never happened before around here.

“I don’t feel secure especially as I have two children.”

Amar Ilyas, 36, of Countess Street, said: “I heard a loud bang but I thought it might have been a car crash.

“It woke me up.

“I have been living here all my life and I’ve never heard anything like it.”

Detectives have said the investigation is in its early stages and they are working to find out what weapon may have been used and the people involved.

Det Sgt Bryony Midgley said: “Incidents of this kind are thankfully relatively rare and we don’t believe there is any threat to the wider public.

“However we have stepped up patrols in the area to reassure local residents.

“We are still very much in the early stages of our investigation including trying to identify the potential weapon that may have been used and the persons and vehicles involved.

“If you know anything call police on 101.”