A HORRIFIED neighbour has today told how she desperately tried to save the life of a 27-year-old man after he was gunned down by a cyclist.

The victim was rushed to hospital after suffering fatal injuries to his head and torso, with the gunman making off on a pedal bike.

He was standing close to a parked car on Cornwood Close, Liverpool, when the shooting happened and was taken to hospital before being pronounced dead.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said she had tried to resuscitate the man after hearing the gunshots.

She said: "It was about 11.15am and I just heard four bangs. I wondered what it was so I went into the garden and saw him lying on the floor in the street.

"I did CPR. It's hard seeing someone you know like that. He is a local lad and I know his family. He's a nice lad."

Residents claim they heard four gunshots ring out and some think it may have been a gangland execution. However, police say their investigation is in its very early stages.

One neighbour said: "I had just sat down with a cup of tea when I heard four bangs popping noises.

"I wondered what it was and saw the man on the ground. I went out but someone said: 'He's dead'."

Another said: "It must be a gang shooting. It's just crazy that it's happened in broad daylight.

"It's so brazen - it sounds like an execution which is scary."

A large section of the street has now been cordoned off by police and a number of officers in forensic suits are still on the scene.

A forensic tent was set up next to a white Vauxhall car, parked opposite terraced houses.

Children could be seen coming in and out of some of the houses on the close.

Merseyside Police are now searching for the cyclist - who was dressed all in black and wearing a high-vis orange jacket at the time of the shooting in Belle Vale this morning.

Detective Chief Superintendent Natalie Perischine said: “The investigation into this shocking incident is in its very early stages, and we are keen to speak to anyone who may have information which could help us establish the full circumstances and find those responsible.

"You may have seen or heard suspicious behaviour in Cornwood Close or nearby in Belle Vale and any information, no matter how small you think it may be, could prove crucial as we seek to establish what happened and bring those responsible to justice.

"We share the community’s shock that this could happen in a residential street in broad daylight late on a Sunday morning.

"I want to reassure the public that gun crime will not be tolerated on the streets of Merseyside at any time of day, and that we will thoroughly investigate any information given to us so we can put anyone who carries guns on our streets behind bars.

"I appeal again to anyone who may have seen the incident itself, or someone making off on foot or on a pedal bike, to please get in touch."

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to direct message the Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @merpolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC.

You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 420 of 7/10/18 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-in...ve-information.