Police are investigating after a double shooting left two men in hospital in a town near Wigan.
Emergency services rushed to Hawthorn Grove in Leigh on Wednesday with Greater Manchester Police called by the ambulance service at around 5.45pm.
The force said a man in his twenties was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds after a property had been shot at.
A short time later a man in his thirties was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds following another shooting in Shadwell Grove.
Police are appealing for information and have stated that they will be increasing patrols in the area due to concern from residents.
Detective Superintendent Jamie Daniels said: "We are in the very early stages of our investigation into these incidents but we believe they could be linked.
"We have officers in Leigh carrying out extensive enquiries to establish exactly what has happened.
"Two people are in hospital with gunshot wounds and I can assure people that we will leave no stone unturned as we work to find out who is responsible.
"We understand the community will be concerned and, as such, we have deployed extra patrols to reassure them.
"If you have information that could help us with our investigation, please come forward. Anything said can be done so in confidence or anonymously."
People with information have been asked to contact police on 0161 856 9101 or 0943 quoting 2599 26/01/22.
A cordon was put in place with a forensic team on-site, while police could be seen making door-to-door enquiries.
One resident, reported the Manchester Evening News, said: "I've had at least 20 calls from family telling me to stay in. It's not nice to see in your area this."
