A CHILLING warning was issued by an Ulster terror group after a gunman fired shots into a house in Horwich.

Five shots were fired through the window of the home in Chorley New Road where the family of loyalist leader Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair was seeking refuge after fleeing Northern Ireland.

Hours after the shooting a paramilitary group, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, confirmed they were responsible for the shooting. They said: "Action will be taken against anyone providing guns or a safe haven for these outcasts."

And today as Horwich residents expressed their fears that the gunmen may strike again, it is believed the Adair family have moved away from the town.

Residents in Horwich have condemned the fact that Adair's wife, Gina, and her three children, Natalie, aged 16, Chloe, eight, and four-year-old Jay, were given a "safe" haven in Horwich without their knowledge. The family had lived in the house -- financed by a Northern Ireland housing association since January -- monitored by Special Branch officers.

Today as officers from Bolton police liaised with police in Northern Ireland extra patrols were mounted on the streets of Horwich.

Residents though expressed their fears that more violence and bitterness from the conflict in Northern Ireland could spread to their neighbourhood.

One residents Robert Makinson, aged 63, said: "We should have been informed that this family was in Horwich. They should never have been allowed to live in an area like this."

Another pensioner added: "I don't want a bunch of people connected with terrorism living down the road. Innocent people could easily get caught up in it."

Councillor Barbara Ronson, from Horwich, said she too was concerned about the safety of the community.

"It is a matter of public concern, especially when there are children involved. The council has been briefed by the Chief Superintendent but after an incident like this it is natural that people become jumpy.

"We have been reassured by the police that patrols will be stepped up and we will be working closely with them to keep the area stable. We don't want people to be panic stricken."

The shooting is the latest in a series of attacks on Adair's family and friends, who fled Northern Ireland earlier this year after feuding between loyalists.

Adair, once the most feared loyalist paramilitary leader in Northern Ireland, was jailed after a shooting war with his former comrades.

His wife and small band of supporters were driven out of their stronghold in the Lower Shankill area of Belfast by a rival faction intent on avenging the murder of another terror chief, John Gregg.

They travelled to Scotland before moving to Greater Manchester. Mrs Adair was eventually given a house in Horwich as other members of her family moved to Manchester and other parts of the country.

Even though detectives have described the attack as an isolated incident, police patrols have been stepped up in the area amid fears of further attacks.

The bitter power struggle between Adair and his rivals in the Ulster Defence Association, the UFF's parent organisation, erupted last year after he was expelled from the group.

As tensions heightened, Adair was ordered back to Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim in January and told he must stay behind bars until 2005.

Weeks later Gregg and another UDA man, Robert Carson, were shot dead at Belfast docks as they returned from a Glasgow Rangers match.

With mainstream UDA activists intent on wiping out Adair's crumbling unit, his wife and closest associate John White were among a group forced to flee in February.

But the paramilitary organisation, which has since announced a 12-month ceasefire in a bid to restore some credibility after a spate of murders and sectarian attacks, vowed to pursue those they blame for Gregg's killing.

In a statement issued today, the UFF said: "As a result of an ongoing investigation into the murder of John Gregg, Robert Carson and other criminal activities by Adair and his associates, last night an ASU (Active Service Unit) of the Ulster Freedom Fighters attempted to oust members of the Adair faction in Bolton, England.

"At the same time another section of the same faction were moved from the Shankill area.

"As the investigation continues and more evidence is uncovered, action will be taken against anyone providing guns or a safe haven for these outcasts. They will be moved on wherever they are."

Bolton Police Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Don Brown appealed for the public not to panic.

He said: "We would like to reassure local residents as we believe this is an isolated incident."