THE shots that were fired in a Newport street on Tuesday night were part of the third gun-related incident in the city in the last month.

Police say the three incidents are entirely unrelated and there is no reason for local people to be alarmed.

We are happy to repeat that message and there is certainly no need for scaremongering.

However, it is right that people should be concerned after three gun crimes in such a short period of time.

The sooner full explanations are available, particularly for the most recent two incidents which share a number of similarities, the better.

Both incidents involved apparent car chases and firearms of some kind. It is inevitable, therefore, that people link the events in their minds.

It is important for police to reassure residents in these circumstances and we are happy to accept their assurances that the incidents are not related.

Nevertheless, it is concerning that in a country that supposedly has some of the toughest gun laws in the world following the tragedies in Hungerford, Dunblane and Whitehaven that it still appears to be relatively easy for some people to obtain firearms.

Gun crime is something that all right-minded people want to see wiped from our streets.

It is still a rare crime, however, so while we should all be concerned by recent events there is no cause for alarm.