ARMED police were on the streets at the weekend after two Bolton nightclub shootings within 24 hours.

A team of marksmen joined other uniformed officers, some called in off rest days and others working extended shifts, as patrols were stepped up after the attacks outside the Atlantis and Temple nightclubs.

The shootings, which police say are not linked, have left three men in the Royal Bolton Hospital with gunshot wounds.

In the early hours of Friday a 27-year-old Bolton man was shot five times in the stomach as he left the Atlantis nightclub in Eagley Brook Way. A 19-year-old Bolton man also suffered three gunshot wounds to his hand.

As reported in Saturday's BEN, the following night, a 31-year-old doorman was shot three times in the legs outside The Temple nightclub.

His injuries are not life threatening and he has already been questioned by police.

But detectives today insisted there was nothing to link the incidents.

Officers at Astley Bridge police station are still sifting through scores of witness statements about the Atlantis shooting at 2.30am on Friday.

Details of two men they want to speak to have been issued. The first is a white, aged about 30, and 6ft to 6ft 2ins tall, with short hair and stubble on his face.

The second man is Asian, 5ft 8ins to 5ft 10ins tall and of a medium to heavy build in his late 20s.

Today police urged witnesses to the gun attack outside The Temple to make contact.

Det Chief Insp Paul Buchanan said: "This was extremely serious, but at this time, although we're keeping an open mind, we're not connecting the two incidents.

"Someone could quite easily have been murdered. There have been two shootings in Bolton and we want to reassure people in the town that the police are working very hard to trace those responsible."

DCI Buchanan revealed today the latest gunman -- thought to have been dressed in black and wearing a balaclava -- struck as he walked past the Temple nightclub on St George's Street just after 11.30pm.

Police are investigating claims he made off down All Saints Street and may have escaped in a white car.

Ballistics experts were set to examine bullets recovered from the scene to see if they can find the type of weapon used.

The sudden escalation in gun crime, centred around the town's nightscene, prompted immediate action from concerned police chiefs.

Extra officers were put on duty across the town on Saturday night.

A police spokesman added: "The extra patrols were made up of specialist units and section officers, with other officer drafted in to give a high profile police presence. Officers from the Tactical Aid Unit were on duty, along with one Armed Response Vehicle."

Council leader Bob Howarth confirmed town hall officers involved in a crime and disorder partnership with Bolton police would draft a report.

He said: "We just don't know what's behind these shootings but it creates a bad image for the town.

"It's bad enough when there are these incidents in Manchester city centre or Salford but when they affect the outlying districts it's even more worrying. We're very disturbed by what's happened."

The Temple shooting came on the night that MTV cameras and Radio One DJ Trevor Nelson appeared at the club as part of a sell-out music tour.

The event still went ahead. Many ticket holders had already entered the club before the doorman was gunned down.

The police spokesman added: "The people who got into the club before the incident were allowed to stay in. If they had been kept out there could have been a major public order problem."

Anyone with information about the Atlantis nightclub shooting should contact Astley Bridge CID on 0161 856 5740 or 5751.

Witnesses to The Temple nightclub shooting are asked to ring Bolton Central CID on 0161 856 5640.

A man was due to appear before Bolton magistrates today in connection with the Atlantis shooting. Nasar Ahmed, 27, from Farnworth has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, possession of a firearm and violent disorder.