Two men have been taken to hospital following a shooting in Netherton.
Emergency services were called to Harrops Croft at around 4.20pm on Monday to reports of shots being fired near the canal, close to Grange Primary School.
A 27-year-old and 23-year-old were both taken to hospital for treatment for injuries consistent with a firearms discharge.
The 23-year-old’s condition is currently described as serious while the condition of the 27-year-old is described as stable.
Detectives believe that the incident was a targeted attack despite the full circumstances and motive remaining unknown at this early stage of investigation.
Officers and Crime Scene Investigators are at the scene and extensive enquiries are being carried out to establish the full circumstances of what happened.
A cordon has been established to allow for forensic examination of the scene and house to house enquiries are being carried out.
High visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance to the community.
Detective Inspector Simon Vaughan said: “We are keeping an open mind as to why this has happened and the investigation is in its very early stages.
“Our priority now is to support the victims and establish who is responsible and to bring them to justice.
“I’m sure the vast majority of people in the community will be appalled to find that two men have been shot and we look to them to help us by providing information to make the streets safer.
“Criminals involved in gun crime have no regard for anyone else and I would urge the local community to come together to help us take a stand against the use of firearms and violence on our streets and report anything they saw or heard to us so we can take action.
“If anyone witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious that could help us investigate this incident then please contact our gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or leave information anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”