Nobody is believed to have been injured in either incident and investigations are currently underway. At this stage there is no evidence to suggest the two incidents are linked.

Officers were called to Carlis Road in Kirkby at 8.45pm last night (Friday) following reports of loud bangs and discovered damage to two windows of a property and to a car parked outside.

The property was empty at the time and nobody was injured.

At approximately 11.50pm a report was received that shots had been fired in Hurst Park Drive in Huyton.

A search of the areas has been carried out. At this stage nobody has come forward to report they have been injured and no damage has been caused to any properties.

Investigations are underway into both incidents and CCTV, forensic and house-to-house enquiries are ongoing.

In connection with the incident in Hurst Park Drive detectives are keen to trace a dark-coloured Ford Focus that was seen in the area at the time and was seen to drive off along Warwick Road.

Detective Chief Inspector John Williams said: “Our enquiries into both incidents are at an early stage but there are no reports of anyone being injured. At this stage we do not believe the two are linked.

“I would like to appeal to anyone who was in the area around Carlis Road or Hurst Park Drive last night who saw anyone or anything suspicious to contact us.

“I would also ask anyone who thinks they may have captured something on dash-cam footage to come forward as they may have information which is vital to our investigation.

“I want to reassure our communities that we are committed to finding the people responsible and putting them before the courts and our work will continue. There is no place for guns on our streets and I would appeal to members of the public to come forward and give us information which could help us find those responsible.”

Anyone who was in the area who witnessed anything or saw anyone acting suspiciously in the local area is asked to DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting log 919/1115 of 22^nd February.