FAMILIES living in the cul-de-sacs of Croxteth Park were in shock last night at the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones.

The residents of what was once Europe’s biggest privately-owned housing estate were struggling to come to terms with an 11-year-old being shot dead as he walked home from football practice.

Some residents on the modern estate of well-maintained detached and semi-detached homes spoke about living increasingly in the shadow of gun crime.

Libby and Pete, who asked for their surname to be withheld, said they had lived on the estate for three years.

Pete, an accident and emergency doctor at Aintree Hospital, was on duty the night a 19-year-old murder victim was brought in after being shot.

“This is a nice estate where things like this just do not happen.

“However, although it has been quiet, there has been an increase of gangs and young boys hanging around the pub area.

“Croxteth and Norris Green are known to have gang wars and Croxteth Park is in the middle.” His wife. Libby, is a psychologist who has worked with violent offenders and now works in the community.

She said: “The root of the problem is the family. There is a massive social breakdown. The kids have no role models. They usually come from a broken home, with no father or mother to look up to.

“They feel they have no future.

“At the end of the day, the people they look up to is their gang. Instead of trying to solve a problem, they pick up a gun and shoot someone.”

The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, visited Croxteth Park yesterday.

He said: “We have to ask ourselves what kind of society are we creating?”

Croxteth councillor Rose Bailey said: “This is absolute madness.

“It has sent shock waves throughout the community.

“The community must keep calm and stay together until we find out what happ- ened.”