Shooting drama in city centre street

A gunman opened fire in a city centre street in Wolverhampton, sparking a major investigation.

At least one shot was fired in Temple Street at around 9.30pm yesterday. It is believed the shooting may be connected to a gang of Eastern Europeans.

Today police had cordoned off Summer Row at its junctions with Cleveland Street and Temple Street, blocking off several shops and offices.

A car park had also been cordoned off on Temple Street.

Sources said today they did not believe the shooting, which happened in an area populated by a number of restaurants, was linked to the city's drug gangs.

Four officers stood guard by the police tape this morning and cars attempting to travel down Summer Row were being diverted.

A worker at The Diner, on Cleveland Street, said today: "The police were taping the street off when I came into work at 7.10am. They don't often cordon the street off so it must be quite serious."

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Sarah Astbury said: "We were called at 9.35pm yesterday to reports of a firearm being discharged in Temple Street.

"There were no reports of any injuries. Examinations of the area will take place today."

The shooting came 24 hours after a man was shot twice in the stomach in Great Barr. Police were today trawling through CCTV footage after the 27-year-old was hit in Kingsdown Avenue, Hamstead.

Temple Street was the scene of another shooting in June 2006 when two rival gangs clashed near the former Netto supermarket.