Gunshots leave neighbours shocked

Neighbours spoke of their shock today after a gunman fired shots at a home along a leafy cul-de-sac in the Black Country.

The peace in Charlemont Gardens, in the Park Hall area of Walsall, was shattered by the shots which were fired from a vehicle yesterday morning.

Bullet holes could be seen in the glass panes of the front door on the modern bungalow along the secluded street, where two black, top-of-the-range Range Rovers and a Mercedes were parked outside.

Detectives were seen leaving the street, close to Walsall Golf Club, armed with what appeared to be a CCTV unit.

One nearby neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I don't know what happened, but we just heard some loud noises.

"We don't get any trouble around here normally, so it's all a bit of a shock. It's not exactly a gun crime hotspot on this road."

Another neighbour who wanted to remain anonymous said: "I had just popped out to drop the wife off somewhere. I got back and saw a van full of police in their caps preparing to go down the road.

"We often hear shots from over on the golf course, where they cull things like squirrels, but nothing like this.

"I suppose you just have to hope the police can find the person responsible."

A woman living nearby, who also asked not to be named, said: "You do get a bit worried when something like this happens so close to home."

Police spokesman Steve Garey said: "We had a call at 9.20am yesterday to reports of shots fired in Charlemont Gardens.

Two shots were discharged from a vehicle before a vehicle drove off."

A police cordon around the cul-de-sac was lifted at around 2pm yesterday. Before that, neighbours had been forced to walk through rear gardens to get to their homes. Anyone with information should call Walsall police on 0845 1135000.