A FIREARM has been recovered and five more suspects have been arrested following three shooting incidents in Newcastle at the beginning of the month.

On the evening of Monday, January 8, police received two separate reports that windows were shot at a house in Cowgate and another in Benwell.

Those two incidents came four days after a similar incident at an address in Brunswick on the evening of January 4.

Nobody was injured in any of the incidents and, in the days following the shootings, a number of people were arrested.

Inquiries into the incidents are ongoing and detectives still do not believe there is any danger to the wider public.

Now police have revealed that, as a result of information received from the public, a firearm has been recovered that may have been involved in the incidents.

They have also arrested a further five men - aged 31, 34, 34, 39 and 51 - in connection with the shootings. They remain in police custody.

Superintendent Nicola Musgrove, of Northumbria Police, said she wanted to thank those who had called police with information following the incidents.

She said: "Incidents involving firearms are not common in our region and we pride ourselves on the fact that it is one of the safest places to live in the country.

"There was a swift policing response to these incidents with a number of people being arrested.

"No weapons had been recovered as part of our investigation but a firearm has now been which is a significant step in our investigation.

"A number of new suspects are currently being questioned in relation to these incidents.

"If anyone has information about these incidents, and is yet to call police, then get in touch so that we can help make our city a safer place to live."

Any witnesses, or anyone with any information about the incidents last night, should contact police on 101 quoting log 983 08/01/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.