Police are still on the hunt for an assailant who attacked a group of friends with a gun, 48 hours on from the incident.

A manhunt was launched on Saturday after a man reportedly pulled a gun on a group of people in their 20s in the early hours of the morning.

The group was approached by the man, who proceeded to assault two of them, both male, with what is believed to be an air weapon – but police said enquiries were still ongoing to establish the nature of the weapon.

A police spokesman said armed officers were initially sent to the scene due to the unknown nature of the weapon used in the attack.

The men received injuries to their heads during the assault.

Another member of the group recalled 'running for their lives' through the area around Anglia Square to escape their attacker.

Detectives from Norwich CID are appealing for further information as they try to find out what happened during the incident, which happened at about 4.30am.

Det Insp David Taylor from Norwich CID said: 'Armed officers were sent to the scene to try to find the suspect but after an extensive search he has not been located.

'I would like to reassure the local community that we are carrying out a number of enquiries to identify the offender and we would appeal to anyone with information regarding the incident or the person involved to contact us immediately.'

A cordon was put in place on Saturday morning around the area near Anglia Square where the incident happened.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has further details is asked to contact Norwich CID on 101 or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Crime statistics show that Magdalen Close – near to the Anglia Square shopping centre – was among the 10 streets with the highest levels of reported crime in the first two months of 2018, with 19 crimes reported in or near the street.

In total there were nine violent or sexual assaults reported around Magdalen Street, between its junctions with Fishergate and Magpie Road, in the two-month period.

The Anglia Square area is currently at the centre of a controversial renovation plan, which has seen the community clash with city planners.