Community leaders have expressed deep concern after gun-toting villains fired shots from a car as they pursued another vehicle through the streets of West Bowling, Bradford.

The back window of a Ford Focus was shattered by one blast from a shotgun, but the occupants escaped injury.

The Focus had been pursued through a number of streets by a silver Subaru Impreza. Police were alerted to shots being fired at about 11.30pm on Sunday.

They discovered a similar Impreza burned out in Curzon Street, Bradford Moor, shortly before midnight.

The Focus has been traced and the passengers interviewed, but police are anxious to hear from anyone who saw the vehicles or has information about the motive for the shooting.

Councillor Sher Khan, (Lab, Little Horton), whose ward covers West Bowling, said: “I feel devastated that this is happening because we have been working very hard with the police in that area to reduce Crime.

“It had become the lowest crime area in the Trident area but, in the last few months, we seem to be having a lot of problems in West Bowling. I don’t know what’s causing this but I will be speaking to the police.”

Councillor Ian Greenwood (Lab, Little Horton) said: “You have to be concerned when such events happen.

“It’s a small group of people disturbing the peace of a community that has taken great strides in recent years in terms of reducing crime.

“The sooner the police bring these people to justice the better. I would encourage anyone who knows anything about this to come forward and give evidence to rid the community of this unacceptable behaviour.”

Detective Inspector Craig Lord, of Bradford South CID, said several shots had been fired.

Det Insp Lord said: “It is concerning that someone feels the need to fire shots in the street in this way.

“But the general public should be reassured that they are not at risk. This was not a random shooting, it was a targeted attack.”

He added: “Anyone who witnessed the Subaru following the Focus through West Bowling and saw or heard shots being fired, we need to hear from. We also would like to hear from anyone who has any information about the incident and why it happened.”

The pursuit followed the route of Parkside Road, Gathorne Road, Parsonage Street, Mill Lane and Prospect Street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bradford South CID on 0845 6060606, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

e-mail: steve.wright @telegraphandargsu.co.uk