POLICE have been carrying out stop-and-searches near the scene of a shooting in St Ann's eight days ago.

Officers have also been using special powers to move on groups of people hanging around in the area.

Two gunshots were fired towards a group of people standing outside Smithy's News, Food and Wine store on The Wells Road at around 1.05pm on Monday, August 30.

Officers believe the shots came from a silver Ford Puma, which was then driven towards Woodborough Road.

No one was injured in the incident, although damage was caused to the shop.

St Ann's Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Keith Priest said: "As part of an on-going strategy, officers are deployed to hot-spot areas at key times to deal with anyone who is acting suspiciously, to gather intelligence and to provide public reassurance.

"The St Ann's Safer Neighbourhood Team works with residents, businesses, community centres and youth clubs to ensure we understand local concerns and deal with them appropriately.

"As a result we have a range of measures in place, including a dispersal order in The Wells Road area – which allows us to move-on groups of more than two people – and [we] have been actively using stop and search powers on individuals who are acting suspiciously."

Mr Priest said he understood the misery criminal and antisocial behaviour can bring to neighbourhoods and assured the public that police were "using all the tools in the box" to increase community safety.

Residents in St Ann's are still in shock after last week's shooting.

Mum-of-three Aimi Wright, 30, who spoke to the Post as she headed past the scene of the incident, said: "I won't send my kids down here after 6pm.

"This shooting was something waiting to happen given the amount of youths hanging around here.

"You have to stand up to them when you go to the shop. Older people see them outside and turn round and go home.

"Because something has happened, it's gone quiet – but it will be back to normal in a week."

Chris Penn, 38, from St Ann's, said: "Before I moved here a year ago I heard St Ann's was very violent, but that it's got much better.

"My daughter wants to walk around but now she's a bit scared."

Not everyone was fearful of crime in the area.

Mary Bartlett, 79, said: "There will always be some nasty people around but I don't think about it. It's normally quiet around here."

One 59-year-old trader on Robin Hood Chase, who did not want to be named, said he'd seen more police on the street.

"Things have improved a lot in the last 18 months. You see the police walking around three or four times a day."

Officers are still keen to speak to anyone who saw a silver Ford Puma on the day of the shooting or who has any information about anyone associated with the car.

A 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Call police on 0115 8446994 or 0300 300 9999 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.