A GUN was fired inside a police car during a Christmas Day disturbance in Bradford city centre, it has emerged.

West Yorkshire Police said the firearm - which a member of the public claimed was a shotgun - was "discharged into a marked police vehicle" on Sackville Street while officers were speaking to the victim of an assault.

A spokesman for the force said the gun was fired at 4.43am yesterday, damaging the vehicle's windscreen.

Officers had arrived at the scene at about 4.10am to deal with the report of an assault.

A member of the public told the Telegraph & Argus: "The firearms incident in the town centre was a shotgun fired at a police officer sat in a car."

Police said no-one was injured by the gunshot. However, one person was injured as a result of the assault, although their injuries are not believed to be serious.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault. He remains in police custody.

The top of Sackville Street where it meets Westgate was cordoned off.

An area around Westgate from the Boy and Barrel pub to where the road meets Godwin Street was also cordoned off and forensics were working on gunshot marks to the doorway of Kings Amusements.

Paul Chan, licensee of The Castle pub, said he arrived at the pub between 6am and 7am and the cordon was in place then.

"It is very worrying to see this whatever it is. This sort of thing shouldn't happen on Christms Day."

Steve Preston, manager of the Boy and Barrel, said he had closed at midnight on Christmas Eve and nothing had happened then.

He added: "I've no idea what it is all about. You can see markers on the ground where police have found things but as far as what has happened I have no idea yet."

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. Any witnesses are asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team on 101, quoting log number 252 of December 25.

Meanwhile, police are investigating another shooting incident, which happened in Market Square, Shipley, on Christmas Eve.

A police spokesman said: "It happened at 4am in the Market Square area of Shipley - although it wasn't reported to police until 6.52pm the same day.

"It is thought that a vehicle and a pedestrian were in collision. The incident wasn't reported to police until 6.52pm when officers were alerted to an injured man who had injuries consistent with having been in a road traffic collision.

"It is also believed he had been shot, although not seriously injured."

Police said enquiries into the incident to establish exactly what happened remain ongoing.

Any witnesses are asked to call Bradford CID on 101 quoting log 1270 of December 24.

West Yorkshire Police also dealt with another gun-related incident on Christmas Eve, when a car was damaged by a gunshot at about 3.10pm in Huddersfield.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster said: "We are very concerned about this recent increase in firearms-related incidents and are appealing directly to the community to help us bring those people responsible to justice.

"In each of the incidents we have immediately deployed armed officers to the scene to offer protection to victims and to provide reassurance to law-abiding members of the public looking to enjoy the Christmas period.

"Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating each incident to see exactly what has happened and have been working closely with colleagues in the Bradford and Kirklees districts to carry out thorough and professional investigations and exploit every opportunity to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"It is vital therefore that the communities we serve feel reassured that, despite this recent spate of gun-related crime, the chances of becoming a victim of such an incident in West Yorkshire are very low.

"It is also important that anyone with any information, no matter how big or small, about any firearms-related incident comes forward with it.

"This includes information about illegally held firearms which we can then take off the streets and stop them getting into the wrong hands.

"In January this year we held a weapons surrender during which 80 guns were handed in.

"That's 80 guns that can now never fall into the hands of people who could cause harm with them and it's timely that we repeat the same weapons surrender in the early New Year."