Police say they have no reason "at this stage" to suspect the shootings are connected.

In the first incident, a man was shot dead at close range while sitting in a Ford Sierra car near a row of shops in the Birchills area of Walsall at about 6.30pm.

The second incident took place later in the Nechells area of Birmingham.

Detectives from the West Midlands murder investigation unit are working through the night on the two cases.

Detective Superintendent Barrie Simpson said ballistic experts and a Home Office pathologist had been called in.

There were no indications as to motives for the two shootings but in recent months there have been a spate of attacks in the city linked to feuds between drug dealers.

In September 27-year-old Chris Swarray, a member of Manchester's notorious Gooch Close gang, was shot dead as he sat in his car in the Ladywood area of Birmingham.