Police have been handed stop and search powers after two Wirral homes were shot at by a gunman.
Police were called to the Beechwood estate just after 11.10pm last night following reports that gunblasts had been heard.
Patrols arrived to find two houses in the Beechwood Drive area that had been hit by gunfire - and officers later discovered a car that had also been shot parked three miles away.
Neighbours on the Beechwood estate claimed they heard what sounded like "thunder" or "fireworks" just after 11pm on Good Friday.
Following enquiries, officers arrested two men, aged 32 and 34 and both from the Birkenhead area, on suspicion of possession of a firearm.
Now a Section 60 Order has been introduced by police following the shooting, which gives police enhanced stop and search powers.
A police spokesman said to the ECHO : "A Section 60 order has been authorised for the Birkenhead area following recent incidents, including shots fired in Prenton last night, Friday, 10 April.
"The Order will begin at 5pm today (Saturday, 11 April) and will conclude at 4am tomorrow (Sunday, 12 April).
"The Order gives officers enhanced stop and search powers in a specified geographic location for a set period of time. Officers are authorised to search any males or females aged between 14-50 years in the location shown on the map.
"The area covered is bounded by Fender Way, Noctorum Avenue, Noctorum Way, Townfield Lane, Bidston road, Upton road, Eleanor road, Bidston Village road onto Fender Way. The authorisation includes the extent of the whole roads at the boundary and the area and land within this boundary."
Anyone with information on crime in the area is urged to come forward and speak to police, either directly or via @MerPolCC, quoting ref. 20000212346 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
