A SAWN-OFF shotgun was found under a bush by a dog-walker in a Bolton park.

The woman made the discovery at about 6.45pm on Thursday in Haslam Park, Deane.

The gun had been wrapped in a plastic bag and stowed in the park.

Police cordoned off the scene for nearly 24 hours, while forensic officers combed the area close to the footpath off Wigan Road.

Officers are now working to establish who the gun belongs to and how it came to be in Haslam Park.

It is not thought that the gun was loaded, but police confirmed it was found with cartridges.

They will be working to see if the weapon has any connection to recent crimes committed, and try to ascertain how recently it had been discharged.

Greg Wood, who owns Cafe Vienna, which is directly next door to the footpath where the gun was found, said he had seen the package, and thought it had been there since Sunday.

He said: "The lady who found the gun came in the cafe. She had been walking her dog.

"She just said 'what do you think that is?' to her friend and then found it was a gun.

"The police have been here ever since.

"The package was about 50 yards in, I've seen it and it's been there since at least Sunday.

The west entrance to the park and the 50 metres directly behind it was cordoned off, with the gate closed.

Mr Wood said there had been people sleeping rough in that part of the park until being moved on recently.

He added: "People have been sleeping rough in the park in tents, and there was one guy sleeping in the bushes.

"They got cleared out a few days ago, which I was glad about, because come summer, we would be overflowing."

A police spokesman said: “At 6.45pm on Thursday police were called following reports a firearm had been found under a bush in Haslam Park, Deane.

“Officers attended and recovered the weapon. No one was injured and no arrests have been made.

“Police are still at the scene while enquiries are ongoing.”

Neighbours said they saw the police activity on Thursday night, with one fearing the worst when he saw the forensic investigators in white suits.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "It is quite a safe area really and when I saw the police there I feared the worst, that somebody might have been attacked.

"It makes you think it has been dumped there by somebody, but you wonder why."

Anyone with any information on how the gun came to be in Haslam Park should call police on 101.