Two teenagers gunned down by gangland hitmen just yards from a children's playground

The boys, aged 16 and 18, were believed to be with a group of other youths inside the shop when two men burst in.

One opened fire at the boys, before both ran away from the shop in Withington, Manchester. The betting shop is opposite a children's play area.

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The boys were rushed to the Manchester Royal Infirmary suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Today, both were said to be in a critical condition following the shooting, which happened just days after reports of gunfire on the same road.

Armed response officers were called to the William Hill shop on Mauldeth Road West at 9pm.

They found the 18-year-old with gunshot wounds to his stomach and torso and the 16-year-old boy with injuries to his chest, shoulder and leg.

The shop, part of a parade of businesses opposite a children's playground, was cordoned off.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "Officers from the Armed Response Unit attended and discovered an 18-year-old man with gunshot wounds to his stomach and torso and a 16-year-old boy with gunshot wounds to his chest, shoulder and leg.

"Both are being treated in hospital where they remain in a critical condition.

"Shots were fired in the betting shop and two men were seen to run away."

The shooting happened just four days after police were called following reports of suspected gun shots at 8.50pm. Officers found three bullet casings near the Lucky Star takeaway on the same road.

But police would not confirm if they were linking the two incidents.

Residents spoke of their shock at hearing of the shooting.

Office worker Lisa Davies, 42, said: "It's horrible to think this has happened on your doorstep.

"It seems like there have been more and more things happening lately, but to think it has led to two lads being so badly hurt is awful."

Another man, 33, who asked not to be named said: "I had just been to the takeaway minutes before it was supposed to have happened.

"The first I knew of it was when the police knocked on the door. I hadn't heard anything. I didn't even notice any groups of kids.

"You just become immune to it round here. There are so many bad things happening.

"There are always fights going on, and you hear about stabbings. To hear that kids are being shot though is really frightening."

A shopkeeper, 39, who runs an off licence near the betting shop, said: "There are always kids round here at night. People round here are getting fed up of it.

"I know all the kids from round here, and it sounds like these two were from somewhere else.

"What were they even doing in the betting shop? They shouldn't be allowed to just roam the streets.

"The problem is that some shops let them buy alcohol. I know that you should never serve them, because giving them vodka is as good as giving them a gun.

"These kids are getting killed now. Something has got to change."

Last week promising footballer Halton McCollin, 20 - a cousin of Sky TV weathergirl Denise Nurse - died in hospital after being shot by hitmen in nearby Stretford as he queued with pals at the China Gardens takeaway.

It is feared he was killed simply because he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.