Gunmen have shot four people at three different pubs in Liverpool, police said.

The "despicable" attacks were all launched at pubs in the West Derby suburb of the city - not far from gang and gun crime hotspots Croxteth and Norris Green.

Two thugs pulled up on a motorbike outside the Sefton Arms on Mill Lane, and blasted three shots towards the door, while a bouncer was shot in Mill Lane.

Merseyside Police said three drinkers who were leaving were hit.

The three men were taken to hospital and treated for shotgun pellets to their legs before being discharged.

A force spokesman said: "A couple of minutes later as the offenders drove off along Mill Lane towards Utting Avenue, they fired a shot at the West Derby public house - fortunately no one was injured in that incident."

But at the same time another offender on a motorbike rode up to the Hare and Hounds pub also on Mill Lane and shot a bouncer in the leg.

He was kept in hospital overnight for treatment, police said.

Superintendent Jon Roy urged witnesses to come forward.

Yahooo News

its like T2 at the start, I wounder if the get away involved being chased by a semi down a flood path.

my god, what happened to the days of 1 on 1 fisticuffs? (is that actually a word)

Motorbike gunmen wound four people in three West Derby drive by shootings

ARMED bikers wounded four people in three ‘ride by’ shootings at pubs in West Derby.

A doorman and three punters were injured after gunmen targeted pub doorways in three apparently co-ordinated attacks.

The first shooting was at the Sefton Arms in Mill Lane, West Derby where two people pulled up in the car park on a motorbike just after 11pm last night.

They fired several shots at the door and injured three punters who were leaving the building at that moment.

The gunmen then rode along Mill Lane towards Utting Avenue, where they fired a shot at the West Derby pub.

No-one was wounded in that attack.

At the same time, another gunmen pulled up outside the Hare and Hounds pub on Mill Lane on a motorbike and opened fire.

The shots were all aimed towards the doorway and one struck a doorman in the leg.

The wounded were all taken to hospital.

The three men shot leaving the Sefton Arms were released after being treated for pellet wounds.

But the doorman shot in the leg was kept in overnight for treatment.

Merseyside police superintendent Jon Roy called the attacks "despicable".

He said: "Four people were injured as a result of these incidents and we are fortunate no-one was killed.

"The people responsible for these attacks showed a total disregard for anyone who may have been drinking in those pubs, or walking near them, and they need to be caught.

"There is no place for violence of this nature on Merseyside and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward immediately so the people responsible can be arrested, charged and put before the courts.

"I would urge anyone who has any information regarding these incidents to come forward immediately.

Crime scene investigators were carrying out forensic tests in the area which caused roads to be closed.

Police apologised for the inconvenience and asked drivers to avoid the area.

Officers are conducting house-to-house inquiries and increased their high visibility patrols to reassure the local community.

Anyone with any information should call the Guncrime hotline on 0800 458 1211 or Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555 111. THE LIVERPOOL ECHO