Two police officers have had chunks of their arms bitten out during a series of raids following gangland violence in Manchester.

Six males, aged between 16 and 31, were arrested in connection with a host of shootings in the city’s Harpurhey area during the Friday morning swoops.

But after one suspect complained of feeling unwell and was taken to hospital, he launched a frenzied attack on four separate officers, biting two of them and injuring the leg of another.

Among those hurt was a 69-year-old special constable – a volunteer – who required hospital treatment for bite marks.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "The officers were left understandably shocked by what happened with two of them sustaining serious bite marks.

"Despite this they finished their shifts and will be back on duty for their afternoon shift later."

A 17-year-old was arrested in connection with the incident on suspicion of a wounding, grievous bodily harm with intent, assault and assault of an emergency worker. He remained in custody on Saturday afternoon.

The raids themselves were carried out as part of an investigation into an apparent ongoing dispute between two criminal groups in Harpurhey.

Most recently, on Tuesday, police were called to reports of shots being fired and criminal damage being committed to two addresses and two cars in the neighbourhood – once described as the most deprived in England.

No injuries were reported, and officers are yet to recover any evidence of a firearms discharge from the incident.

But there have also been three confirmed shootings since the start of February in the area, leading to fears of escalating violence.

Police said they found two machetes and a bullet casing in Friday’s raids.