Shots were fired in Farnworth last night, Saturday, in an act of violence linked to two other incidents in the town which happened in a short space of time.
At around 5:20pm, police were called to reports of a suspected "firearms discharge" on Parkfield Avenue in Farnworth.
Armed officers attended and cordons were set up as police secured the area.
Police then responded to reports of disorder on Bradford Road, where two vehicles crashed, and also on Lavender Road, where a vehicle had been driven into an address.
A Land Rover Defender with a smashed window and a door left open was parked up on the middle of the pavement inside a cordon on Bradford Road.
At this time, police said the three incidents are being treated as "connected" and cordons have been put in place in each of the three areas.
No arrests have been made and no injuries have been reported as police appeal for witnesses to come forward.
Read more: RECAP: Updates as police put large cordon in place
Superintendent Mark Kenny of Greater Manchester Police said: "Specialist officers were deployed swiftly to the scene and are hunting down those involved.
"No arrests have been made at this time we are treating this as an isolated incident.
"A patrol plan is in place and additional officers have been deployed to the area and will remain in place throughout the night.
"I understand the concern this may cause in the community, but I wish to reassure you that our investigation is progressing at pace.
"Detectives are at the scene and are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to piece together the circumstances.
"We are also appealing to anyone with information - or footage of these incidents - to come forwards and share it with us.
"Please call 101 with any information you might have, quoting incident number 2,439 of 19.11.2022.
"Alternatively, you can all the independent charity Crimestoppers (anonymously) on 0800 555 111."
One reader shared his account of the incident.
He said: "I asked my wife to phone police when she first saw more than two males with sharp long blades in their hands running into a house with faces covered.
"They all ran away (and went into) an escort vehicle that picked them up shortly before police arrived on the scene.
"We've never had any incident like this on this road in past four years.
"Hope everyone is OK."
A resident who lives nearby said: “There was a car seen to be abandoned in the middle of the road and then the next minute the police were there.
“My daughter was going out and she was ringing a taxi, and then heard a racket so came to the front door and that’s when we saw it.”
The resident also said a helicopter had been flying overhead in the area.
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