DETECTIVES were last night investigating a string of shootings at three suburban pubs.

A doorman and three customers were shot after gunmen on motorbikes targeted the West Derby pubs in the space of minutes.

Caught up in the spray of bullets was the Daily Post's deputy business editor Tony McDonough.

The 39-year-old was drinking in the Sefton Arms, in Mill Lane, on Saturday night when the armed bikers attacked.

He felt several small objects pepper his face and dived under the table for cover.

The Sefton Arms was the first pub to be targeted and Mr McDonough was one of three men hit in the face and arms as two gunmen on a motorbike sprayed pellets from a shotgun.

They then fled towards Utting Avenue where they fired a shot at The West Derby, known locally as The Barry’s.

At around the same time a third gunman, brandishing a different weapon, fired at the Hare and Hounds in Mill Lane hitting a 37-year-old doorman in the leg.

Mr McDonough was wounded in the attack just after 11pm on Saturday. Two men, aged 50 and 52, were also hit.

He was discharged from Fazakerley hospital with four still pellets embedded in his face.

He said: “We were sitting around a table inside the pub and were about 10ft from the doors which were wide open.

“Suddenly I heard a pop like a champagne cork popping and felt something in the side of my face.

“I knew straight away we were being shot and I dived to the floor.

“Two of the three other people I was sitting with were also hit.

“At first I thought it couldn’t be that bad because I felt OK. But then I touched my face with my hand and it was covered in blood.

“I could hear people screaming and could see everyone else had dived for cover too.”

Mr McDonough, a regular for 20 years, added: “Everyone in the pub was brilliant. They were really kind and helped me to make sure I was OK. The emergency services were excellent throughout too.

“That was the last thing I expected to happen.

“The Sefton Arms is usually trouble free.”