SEVEN people have been arrested over an alleged murder plot which has left police with continuing fears over the "victim".

Six men and a woman, all aged between 21 and 30, were held after early morning raids yesterday at addresses in Blackburn, Greater Manchester, Ches-hire and Northampton.

The arrests follow an incident in February when a bullet was fired at a Fiat Punto at the back of a house in Accrington Road, Blackburn.

The bullet missed the 20-year-old front seat passenger, who was with his cousin at the time, by "inches".

Two men were seen running from the scene.

Detectives said the shooting incident was a "carefully organised and targeted attack" on two young men.

They have refused to name the two "victims" of the attack amid ongoing fears for their safety.

Yesterday's swoops involved more than 100 police officers and houses in Lambeth Street, July Street, and Hereford Road, Blackburn, were searched.

Several other addresses were raided at the same time in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Northampton.

The suspects were all taken to Greenbank Police Station where they were still being quizzed by detectives today.

Community officers distributed leaflets in the areas where the raids took place to reassure residents.

Alison Moorcroft, 62, lives on Frederick Row which faces the crime scene and the backs of terraced houses on Accrington Road.

She said: "I thought the gunshot was a firework going off because kids are always letting them off round here.

"It wasn't really a surprise that something like this happened. It's getting terrible around here.

"There's car windows being smashed and kids knocking on doors all the time and pestering us.

"With things like the shooting you get frightened to go out of your front door."

Another resident of Frederick Row, who asked not be named, said a more high profile police presence was needed.

She said: "When it happened I thought it was an exhaust backfiring but then the police came around and asked me whether I'd seen anything.

"We don't feel safe anymore and the area is getting worse. More community police officers would be a good thing but they never seem to be around here."

Det Chief Insp Neil Hunter said although gun-related crime in the county was rare the incident was being treated "extremely seriously."

He said: "We will not tolerate activity of this nature in our community and will vigorously pursue those responsible. Thankfully, no one was injured in this instance.

"Although the victims are entirely innocent this was not a random shooting but a carefully organised and targeted attack on two young men and we are not identifying the victims due to fears for their safety."

Anyone with information about incident should contact Blackburn Police on 0845 1 25 35 45, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.