TEENAGERS across Blackburn have been put on the alert after it was revealed that the sinister gunman who blasted a youth in the chest may have struck before.

Seventeen-year-old Adam Hayes was gunned down as he walked home with three friends late on Friday.

Police today revealed that four other teenagers claim they were threatened two weeks ago by a man matching the description of the attacker.

The youngsters were threatened after a confrontation with the middle-aged man in the street and have given a detailed description almost identical to the mystery gunman who blasted Adam in the chest with a shotgun.

The incident happened on Sunday, January 30, near Larkspur Close in Feniscowles around a mile away from the scene of Friday night's shooting.

Youths in the town are being warned not to approach any strangers as police step up the search for the gunman.

Following press appeals, police were called to several possible sightings of the gunman in Blackburn.

The force helicopter hovered above Witton Park for half an hour last night after a man fitting the description was seen in the park.

Adam, 17, is recovering in Blackburn Royal Infirmary where his condition is described as poorly but stable. Detective Chief Inspector Mike Kellett is heading the investigation into the shooting.

He said: "After the publicity about the latest incident, four teenagers got in touch with us to say they had got involved in a confrontation with a man.

"An argument broke out and this man produced what looked like a metal tube from his coat and threatened to shoot them. We are also looking at three other incidents in the area."

Police are also appealing for anyone who witnessed the attack on Friday night to contact them.

Adam and three other teenagers, including a girl, were close to the junction of Preston Old Road with Tower Road at about midnight when they came across a man in a bus stop.

DCI Kellett said: "This was an horrific attack on this young man and it appears to have no motive.

"Obviously anybody who is prepared to use a weapon in this way could do the same again and we would ask people to be wary of approaching anyone they suspect is the man we might want."

Police were at the scene within 10 minutes of receiving an emergency call and sealed off the park as well as a bus shelter close to St Francis Road and a nearby lane.

Detectives have set up an incident room in Blackburn and police flooded the area around Witton Park over the weekend.

The force helicopter hovered above the Witton Park area for most of Saturday and dogs were also used as officers combed the area.

The attacker was middle-aged, about 5ft 9in tall and skinny with round glasses with thick-rimmed frames. He had grey hair with a fringe and was wearing a dark coloured bobble hat and a blue-grey three-quarter length duffle coat.

Anyone with any information should contact Blackburn Police on 01254 51212.

The scene of the shooting is pictured.

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