Armed police shot the tyres of a car carrying suspected criminals as it drove through Wightwick, it was revealed this afternoon.

A specialist device was fired at the car when it reached traffic lights in the exclusive suburb outside the Mermaid pub, on the Bridgnorth Road, as horrified motorists looked on.

The car, which witnesses said was a red Fiat Punto, was searched for guns and drugs.

The four men in the car were arrested but later released without charge after the drama, at around 9pm yesterday.

A driver who was waiting at the traffic lights at the bottom of Windmill Bank when the scene unfolded described the drama.

The 69-year-old electrician from Castlecroft, who asked not to be named, said: “An armed officer got out of a marked police car and he shot two or three times at the one car. The police were wearing body shields and caps.

“One policeman rushed us through the lights. It was scary and we ducked in case something flew past.”

A 67-year-old man who lives near the Mermaid said today he and his wife had been watching TV when they heard bangs.

He said: “I thought initially it was a car crash as we have quite a few on the crossroads. But when I heard the second and third bangs, I said to my wife ‘that’s gunfire’.

“There were four unmarked police cars and two marked police cars and officers shouting ‘get out of the car’.”

Police spokeswoman Catherine Hickman said this afternoon: “The car was stopped by police, including specialist firearms officers, in relation to information suggesting the vehicle was involved in illegal activity.

“Firearms officers discharged devices which are used to disable vehicle tyres.

“The car, containing four occupants, was searched for drugs and firearms, however nothing was recovered.”