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A man armed with a shotgun blasted another man in the head in front of terrified Christmas shoppers before fleeing on a bicycle, say witnesses.

Shops shut their doors and bystanders scattered after the gunman opened fire in a busy area at lunchtime.

Armed police rushed to the scene and found the wounded man in his 20s and a bus driver who was also injured.

Shocked witnesses said the suspect was seen moments later putting the gun into his jacket before riding off on a bike.

They described hearing a "massive bang" before seeing the injured man on the floor and people running, the Liverpool Echo reports.

(Image: Liverpool Echo) (Image: Liverpool Echo)

Armed police rushed to the area of Eastbank Street in Southport town centre, Merseyside, at around 12.30pm.

The wounded man suffered a non life-threatening head injury, while the bus driver suffered a minor injury.

An employee at Harpers Chip Shop said: “The road is cordoned off. There has been a shooting. I am not sure where it is exactly but I heard a massive bang. I thought someone’s tyres had blown out.

"Then I saw someone running down the street, I have never seen someone run so quickly. It is horrendous. We are having to close now.”

(Image: Liverpool Echo) (Image: Liverpool Echo)

A business owner said he heard a bang and came to the front door of his shop to see a man going past.

He said: “He walked past pushing this bike and was putting a gun into his jacket and then he got on the bike and rode away. I am closing the shop now - the whole street is sealed off and no-one can get in or out.”

(Image: Liverpool Echo) (Image: Liverpool Echo)

Another witness said: “I walked out of Primark and the second I stepped outside I heard it, it was outside Thorntons.

"Scary stuff, I just rushed the kids away and back home. The guy who got shot was sitting up and conscious so fingers-crossed he’s ok.”

A police statement said: "We can confirm that emergency services are in attendance after reports of a shooting in the Southport area today.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

"At around 12.30pm, a call was received of a gunshot in the area of Eastbank Street. Armed officers attended and a man in his 20s was found with a non life-threatening head injury and will be taken to hospital.

"A bus driver was also found with a minor injury and will be taken to hospital.

"Enquiries are ongoing at the scene to establish the exact circumstances and a road closure is currently in place on Eastbank Street from Kings Street to Lord Street."

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Chief Inspector Paul Sutcliffe added: “I want to appeal to any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

“To fire any weapon in a busy street at this time of the day is incredibly reckless and there will have been numerous people in the area, some of whom may have seen the incident or somebody running off, or have dashcam or CCTV footage to assist.

“We are determined to find the person responsible and bring them to justice and I want to reassure people that there are extensive enquiries ongoing to establish the circumstances.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers on the gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.