THREE gunmen armed with a handgun left a shop worker 'extremely distressed' after a raid at McColls in Upton.

At around 8.35pm yesterday (Saturday) police received a report that a man had been threatened with a gun by three males inside McColls on Manor Drive.

The males, aged between 15 to 18 years old, all dressed in black clothing with hoods up, got involved in a dispute with the man before one threatened the shop worker with a gun.

The yobs then made off in a car towards Moreton Bypass and left the vehicle on Sudworth Road, New Brighton.

Armed officers and the Dog Section were supported by the National Police Air Service attending the scene and a blank firing handgun with a number of rounds was located on Leasowe Road, near Wakefield Drive.

House to house and CCTV enquiries are ongoing.

Chief inspector Steve Rice said: "While thankfully no one was injured during this incident, one man was clearly left extremely distressed and we are determined to locate the offenders and bring them to justice.

"While this is a blank-firing weapon, it could have been used to create further fear in our communities and its recovery shows yet again how vital information form the community can be in our fight against gun crime.

"We are relentless in our pursuit of those involved in gun crime and will continue to carry out searches such as this to make our streets safer.

"I'd urge anyone who has any information about firearms in their community to get in touch with officers on the gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Merseyside Police on 101 quoting reference number 18200044034 or report to thhe social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or on Facebook at 'Merseyside Police CC'.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.