EXCLUSIVE: Armed police on operation allegedly in connection with Lighthouse Inn shootings

UNCONFIRMED doorbell camera footage appears to show armed police on an operation today following the Lighthouse Inn shootings on Christmas Eve.

In the video, apparently shot from the doorbell camera of an innocent bystander's address in the Birkenhead area, two armed officers are seen running into a neighbouring property, before a man appears and says: "What the f*** is going on here"

Merseyside Police has not said what the footage, which has been shared via Whatsapp, is directly in relation to.

The still from the video (above) shows one of the officers and another in the background.

However, today the force said it had arrested six people, carried out eight stop searches and two open land searches in Wirral in an ongoing proactive policing operation to target criminals and protect those living in the area, following the shootings.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "Officers are in Birkenhead, Woodchurch and Wallasey yesterday and today, Sunday and Monday 25 and 26 December, in high visibility police presence in a direct response to the fatal shooting at The Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village on Saturday 24 December."

It is not clear how the offences are linked to the shootings.

The force said the six people were arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including drink driving, drug driving and being in possession of controlled drugs.

In one incident a 37-year-old woman from Moreton was arrested after officers sighted a vehicle being driven erratically and two females were detained. A small quantity of cannabis was found on the passenger, and she was given a community resolution order.

In two separate incidents, David Edwards, 49 years, of Fairmead Road in Moreton, and Michael Robson, 37 years, Claughton Firs in Oxton have been charged with driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level is above the limit.

Both suspects have been bailed and will appear in court at a later date.

Officers visited a number of licensed premises and carried out an open land searches in the borough.

Peter Rexwinkel, Community Policing Inspector for Wirral, said: “This police operation is an on-going disruption to target criminals involved in serious and organised crime in Wirral.

“We received positive feedback from residents in these communities about the proactive police work being carried out to tackle crime, and our officers have been chatting to residents about community issues which they might not have told us about.

“Enforcement operations like this illustrates that Merseyside Police will proactively tackle issues that matter most to residents and keep our streets safe. This supports the work we do every day of the year to tackle those who offend in our communities.

“Stop searches, warrants, land searches and arrests take place all year round, and in many instances it is thanks to the public who tell us where there are issues in the community.

“If you have anti-social behaviour or criminality in your area let us know and we will take action.”

Anyone who has information about drug dealing in the community, where weapons are being stored or who is using them can contact us by sending a DM to @MerPolCC, calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.