A GANG of masked thugs brought terror to a quiet street by firing a gun shot.

Moments earlier the four men had turned up on the doorstep of a home in Frances Street, Darwen, and threatened the resident who answered the door.

Detectives said they were still investigating the motive but that one line of inquiry was that the shooting was gang related.

The hooded men fled the scene in a green car after the shot was fired into the sky.

Police have lauched a major hunt, although no arrests have yet been made.

Yesterday the entire street was cordoned off so that specialist search teams could comb the street for a bullet.

The shooting had left residents of the quiet area shocked.

One said: “Everyone is talking about it. It is terrible to think that someone could start firing a gun on the street.

“I heard that the gang were specifically looking for someone but it is still very worrying when something like this happens.”

Local councillor for the Sudell ward Coun Roy Davies added: “To hear that guns have been used is an awful surprise. I am shocked.

“It was just a couple of weeks ago when two women were stabbed in Olive Lane, which is nearby.

“Now this has happened. The police have said that they are isolated incidents and one-offs but they are happening too frequently.

“The police have got to make sure that they have a high-profile presence on the streets to reassure residents that this is being taken seriously.”

Inspector Rob Campbell said witnesses described the gang members as Asian men aged between 18 and 22. They were wearing masks or scarves to hide their faces and all were wearing dark-coloured hooded jackets.

He said: “This is a very quiet street and I am sure the incident has been of great shock to people who live there.

“No-one was injured but this was a very serious incident which could have had very serious consequences.”

Detective Inspector Andy Hulme, who is leading the hunt, added: “Incidents involving firearms are extremely rare in Darwen and we will be speaking to the local community as part of our inquiries to find out exactly what happened.

“I urge anyone with information or who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact us.”

Neither the gun nor a bullet have yet been recovered.

The incident happened at 9.10pm on Sunday, Anyone with information should call police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.