High-speed shootout on the M4

A Mercedes and a BMW crashed and police found a gun after chase

Police are appealing for witnesses after suspected gangsters exchanged gunfire in a high-speed car chase on a motorway.

Two cars, a Mercedes and a BMW, crashed after the chase and four men were seen fleeing on foot.

The incident happened early on Saturday evening on a sliproad at junction 8/9 on the M4 near Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Police found a live handgun without ammunition and a quantity of cannabis at the scene.

A man in his 20s, from the London area, has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm.

Changing direction

Witnesses say they heard shots fired and saw two black men fleeing from the Mercedes, and two white men fleeing from the BMW. A third black man was also seen in the Mercedes.

Nobody was thought to have been injured in the incident.

The cars apparently crashed after they left the M4 eastbound, and then crossed a roundabout to head back in the opposite direction, away from London.

Junction 8/9 was partially closed, causing lengthy tailbacks, while police searched the area.

Detective Inspector Nick Evans, of Bracknell CID, appealed for anyone who saw or heard the chase to come forward.

He said on Monday: "Inquiries into the incident are ongoing today as we continue to make take statements from the many witnesses.

"We really need to hear from anyone else who was travelling on the M4 between 1700 and 1800 BST, who thinks they may have seen the vehicles pursuing each other, or believes they saw or heard shots being discharged."