Officers are targeting gang-related gun crime

Operation Goodwood is being relaunched by Greater Manchester Police to tackle firearms incidents in the south of the city.

The force has previously used armed police in vans, but now the firearms officers will accompany their unarmed colleagues on foot.

Police say that the potential for gun crime, fuelled by gang tensions, is causing "serious concern".

It is the second time that the force has mounted Operation Goodwood.

There were ten armed incidents in the first four months of last year in Moss Side, Hulme, Fallowfield and Rusholme, where the operation is centred.

'Clear message'

In the first three months of this year there have been eight armed incidents and one person has been killed.

Superintendent Neil Wain, commander of the Greenheys division, said: "Recently the level of firearms incidents and the potential for such occurrences has reached such a level as to cause serious concern.

"Operation Goodwood sends a clear message to those responsible for armed crime that we will not accept such behaviour and will do everything in our power to stop it."