A NIGHT sniper fired shots from a park narrowly missing pedestrians just 48 hours after a man had been wounded in the same place.

Two days after shots from a giggling gun gang left a pensioner with an air rifle pellet embedded deep in his left leg, two men returning from an evening out had a lucky escape as they passed Tyldesley Park in Astley Street.

Steve Duckworth, of Thirlmere Avenue, Tyldesley was walking home from a regular Wednesday evening out with pal Robert Ellis when they were fired at twice, but both shots were deflected by park railings.

He said: "I thought from the noise I'd kicked a can or cracked a twig, but when it happened again we both realised we had been shot at.

"We knew nothing of the earlier incident and reported the matter to the police who sent out tracker dogs to search the area.

"It's frightening that gunmen are taking pot shots at people. It could easily have been my partner who is seven months pregnant walking with me. It's about time these people were caught and dealt with."

Last week 70-years-old Don Shaw and his pal Roy Charnock were heading home at 11.35pm past Tyldesley Park when Don was hit by a pellet in the left calf.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "Officers are aware of the incidents and investigations are continuing.

"Patrols will be visiting and monitoring the area to ensure that incidents of this nature do not continue.

"Officers would also like to reassure the local residents that they are working closely with the council to get lighting in Astley Street Park in the evenings."