A BULLET head has been discovered in Widnes following reports of possible 'gunfire'.

Residents alerted the police after hearing a series of bangs in the Somerville Road area.

Officers made an extensive search of the area after the alleged incident on Wednesday, March 26, but there found nothing.

The bullet head is now being forensically examined to determined exactly what it is and what kind of weapon it has come from.

Officers will now be maintaining a high-visibility police presence, continuing with enquiries and providing reassurance to the community.

Chief Inspector Kev Bennett said: “Following the initial reports there was no physical evidence that a weapon had been discharged in the local area. As part of ongoing enquiries a bullet head has now been recovered and this will be examined so we can better understand where this has come from and how this fits into our investigation.

“We have maintained a high-visibility police presence in the area since the initial reports and I want to reassure local people that this will continue. Residents are clearly concerned about what has happened and we are taking those concerns extremely seriously.

“Since the initial calls from residents I can confirm that there have been no further reports suggesting the discharge of any weapons in the area.

"Our work will continue and we will remain in the area over the coming days as our enquiries progress. As we make further searches and speak to more people.

“We are doing everything we can to establish the full facts surrounding the incident. Officers are currently following up a number of lines of enquiry and I would urge anyone with any information about what has happened to get in touch.

“We have already spoken to a lot of people but there may be others that have not yet come forward.”

Anyone with information is urged to call 101 and quoting incident number 931 of 26th March or speaking to a local officer in the area.

If you have information and do not want to speak to an officer directly then information can also be left anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.