TWO men have been shot in a “sickening” car ambush in Birkenhead.

Emergency services were called at around 12.10am today (Thursday, July 25) outside the Brass Balance Wetherspoons on Argyle Street.

It is believed three people were in a silver Vauxhall Astra estate when two motorbikes, each with two men on board, approached and the pillion passenger on one of the bikes fired shots before riding away.

The car then drove off and the vehicle was located a short distance away in Rodney Street.

The driver and the front seat passenger had both sustained gunshot injuries.

The rear seat passenger was uninjured. 

Paramedics were then called and both victims, who are from Birkenhead, were taken to hospital for treatment. Their condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

The 26-year-old driver was shot in his shoulder, while the 25-year-old passenger suffered injuries to his arm.

Wirral Globe:

The silver Vauxhall Astra estate parked on Rodney Street (Merseyside Police)

Crime scene investigators are at the scenes in Argyle Street and Rodney Street, where they are carrying out forensic examinations of the scene.

Detectives will be looking at CCTV footage to establish the circumstances of the incident.

Residents say at the time of the shooting they heard three gunshots being fired.

Officers are know keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the shooting to come forward.

Detective Inspector Paul Speight, said: "At the time of the incident there were a large number of people in Wetherspoons and the Argyle Street area and the actions of the offenders are utterly incomprehensible and sickening.

"We need to find the people on that motorbike as a matter of urgency.

Wirral Globe:

“We have already spoken to a number of witnesses who were at the pub and in Market Street at the time of the attack, but if you were there and have information which could be vital to our investigation, or may even have captured the incident on your mobile phone, please contact us.

"The motorbikes were last seen heading along Argyle Street towards Hamilton Square.

"If you think you saw these bikes in the lead up to the incident, or following the incident please let us know.

Wirral Globe:

"Merseyside Police is relentless in its pursuit of those who use firearms on our streets and we will be using every resource available to us to identify the offenders, put them before the courts and behind bars.

“There is no place for people like this in our communities and we will work with the good people of Birkenhead to build the evidence to bring them to justice."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information which could help detectives with their inquiries, is asked to contact Merseyside Police via social media @MerPolCC, 101 quoting ref. 0014 of 25 July, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.