TEENAGERS and parents today told of how a mystery gunman has brought fear to the streets in a corner of Blackburn.

And detectives have revealed they are now looking at a number of incidents involving teenagers being threatened by a man fitting the description of the man who shot 17-year-old Adam Hayes early on Saturday.

Detectives were today quizzing a 44-year-old man, arrested in Blackburn last night, in connection with the shotgun shooting of the popular teenager as he walked home close to the main entrance to Witton Park after spending Friday night out with friends.

But they have insisted that the man is just one of a number of people they have spoken to about the offence.

Adam, of Redlam, is still recovering in hospital after he was blasted in the chest at close range with what it is believed was a sawn-off shotgun.

His father Paul said: "This man has got to be caught or has to give himself up before he does something terrible to someone else."

The Blackburn College student, who also worked at local butchers Five Star Meats, is well known in the Redlam area. Lee Kent, 27, of Redlam, and Tony Anderson, 21, of Manxman Road, Blackburn, both know Adam as he worked with them for six months at Five Star Meats.

Lee said: "I live round here so it's a bit worrying. He's a very quiet lad and I was shocked when I found out."

Tony said: "It could have happened to anyone, and it's getting more common all the time. There's quite a few weirdos living round here but you don't expect something like this to happen right on your doorstep." Keith Baron, landlord of the Bulls Head pub said: "Everybody's concerned about it. Adam only lives down the road from here and his mum and dad had this pub eight years ago."

Brian Whitley, proprietor of the Post Office in Redlam said: "I think it could happen anywhere, it's just a sign of the times. Everyone's just in shock, especially as so many people know Adam, and he's a very nice and popular lad."

Mother-of-five Paula Holding, 31, of Fawcett Close, Blackburn, said: "It just gets worse round here. I'd think twice about taking my kids to Witton Park now. It's a big worry, as I'd normally take them down there and let them run wild."

Lynne Rawcliffe, 39, of Curzon Place, Griffin, has a 16-year-old daughter called Vicky and a 17-year-old son called Stephen. She said: "It's really scary, more so when you've got children who are out late at night."

Yvonne Richmond, 38, of Preston Old Road, has a 15-year-old daughter, Laura, and a 17-year-old son, Carl. She said: "It's a bit too close to home, and luckily Laura and Carl weren't out when it happened. "

A massive man hunt has been launched in the area around Witton Park. Police have used sniffer dogs, frogmen and the force helicopter.

Detective Inspector Bob Eastwood of Blackburn CID said: "A number of names have been put forward and we will be checking out all of them thoroughly, there could well be more arrests in the near future."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.