Peace is shattered in quiet neighbourhood

RESIDENTS said The Croft is a usually quiet and sought-after area because of factors including the views of nearby Halton Castle.

One woman said: “We heard loud bangs but I thought it was ‘Missus’ (my daughter) playing upstairs and never heard nothing of it.

“The squad cars must have come in without sirens to not alarm the residents.

“We heard one little blip and I thought ‘that’s a police car’.

“I looked out my bedroom window and it was everywhere and I had to come out for a nose and I said ‘do we need to be worried it’s dangerous to everybody or is it targeted?’

“They said ‘you are in a serious police incident and a crime scene, I suggest you get back inside but it looks like an isolated incident. “He didn’t tell me anything.” She added: “It’s dead quiet (in this area).

“When a house is on the market, they’re not on for more than a week.

“It’s dead strange, most of the residents have been here all their lives – elderly people who have been there since it was built.”

Another said: “It sounded like gunshot somewhere round the back.

“It’s one of those things, I was watching telly and I think ‘was it or wasn’t it?’ – it was a one off.

“Was it a firework, a gunshot, was it my imagination?”