Terrified householders today told how their Bradford street had fallen under the rule of the gun.

And the residents of Amberley Street, close to the city centre, made a desperate plea for help after witnessing their third firearms attack in just over six months.

Thursday night's gang-related shooting saw one man blasted through the eye and another hit in the leg. Police believe only one shot was fired.

The pair's car had been rammed by another vehicle in Leeds Road, close to the Amberley Street junction, before they were surrounded by a large group and attacked.

Some time later a light coloured Rover 400 was set alight in Parratt Row, off Leeds Road, which police believe may be linked.

The incident came after:

In March, a gunman blasted a shotgun through the front door of a back-to-back terrace in Amberley Street at 4am. Nobody was hurt as the pellets ripped through the door and embedded in a wall;

In June, two masked men allegedly forced their way into a house in Amberley Street at around 2.30am before threatening the couple inside with a shotgun and making off with a handbag.

Former Bradford Lord Mayor Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq (Lab, Bradford Moor) called on the police and courts to protect Amberley Street residents.

He said: "They need to get more aggressive with these people who are causing great fear in the local community. I think that like many places elsewhere in the district, a lot of people are very scared about the level of serious crime."

He added: "Six or seven years ago people were not using this sort of violence. I don't know if guns are much more accessible now but it is very worrying."

One Leeds Road businessman, who was too frightened to give his name, said: "The situation is becoming ridiculous. These gangs believe they are above the law and that nobody can stop them, no matter what they do.

"It makes life a misery for everyone else. They never know what is going to happen and they are scared to stand up to these people.

"There is no doubt drug dealing is behind it all."

One young Amberley Street mum said: "It is terrifying that this can happen in the middle of a busy road so close to our homes. My son is seven and I will not let him play outside the house. I just cannot risk it any more.

"If nothing is done, I just dread to think how bad things will be when he grows up."

And a widowed pensioner who lives across the road added: "It is becoming so that people don't feel safe around this area.

"How do these people get hold of guns? The violence is getting worse and worse and they just don't seem to have any regard for human life."

Bradford South CID would like anyone who saw the Rover 400 vehicle linked to the latest incident to contact them through Bradford Central helpdesk on (01274) 376459 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.