POLICE have arrested seven people in raids that followed shots being fired at houses in St Helens and vehicles coming under attack.

Officers swooped in response to gun shots being fired in Derbyshire Hill and Sutton during the past week.

Sources have told the Star the violence could linked to feuding factions within the travelling community.

In a statement Merseyside Police said “detectives believe that these incidents may be linked and are the culmination of an ongoing dispute between two groups”.

Shots were fired at an address on Leonard Street, Sutton, just after 10pm on Saturday, September 3 and at a property on Derbyshire Hill Road, Derbyshire Hill, on Wednesday, September 7.

No-one was injured during either incident.

In a separate flashpoint yesterday (Thursday, September 8) damage was caused to a white Ford Ranger pick-up truck on Kirkland Street, St Helens town centre, near to the ASDA supermarket.

The occupants of a white Ford Connect van threw bricks at the pick up truck and then drove in to it, causing damage.

Damage was also caused to another vehicle, a red Vauxhall Combi van parked nearby, add police.

A 25-year-old man from Sutton has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and criminal damage.

In the past 24 hours eight search warrants have been executed in Parr and Haydock. As a result of the searches a small quantity of what is believed to be Class A, B and C drugs, mobile phones, drugs paraphernalia, financial documents and cash were seized.

And seven people (four men and three women) were arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply.

Superintendent Nikki Holland, said: "We believe that the shots fired at addresses in Derbyshire Hill and Sutton earlier this week could be due to a dispute between two different local groups.

"As a result of our investigations we have executed a number of warrants in St Helens and a number of people have been arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled drugs.

"I would like to reassure the public that there will be an increase in police patrols in the areas where these incidents have occurred.

“Merseyside Police is committed to making our streets safer and I would urge any members of the community who have any information in relation to this investigation to come forward so we can arrest and charge those responsible and put them before the courts."

Anyone with information which could help the police with their inquiries can contact St Helens CID on 0151 777 6802.