GUN crime in Ealing has rocketed this year despite London-wide attempts to crackdown on offences involving firearms.

The borough has seen a steady increase in gun crime over the last year which has seen a tide of Home Office initiatives and Metropolitan Police attempts to reverse the trend.

The number of crimes committed involving the use of firearms has gone up by a third over the same period compared to last year. According to official Metropolitan Police figures, 39 crimes involving firearms were recorded in Ealing for April to July last year. For the same period this year, 61 firearm offences have been already been recorded.

The rise will come as a shock to many living in the borough – but Ealing MP Clive Soley told the Times the rise was not surprising.

Mr Soley, who believes the police are doing all they can to combat the problem, said: "Really, what we need to do is focus on youngsters who find it acceptable to carry guns as part of their image. It is profoundly dangerous and becoming more wide-spread in west London.

"I do think the police are doing what they can but we all have to accept the problem is more complex. There are a number of things that are happening to reduce gun crime but this problem is not just for the police to deal with but the community at large too."

Last week three separate firearms offences were committed in Ealing in the space of just two days. The first happened on a London Underground train shortly after midnight last Tuesday when a 23-year-old man had a handgun pushed to his head before being robbed.

The day before, a 60 year-old man was threatened by a man wielding a silver handgun at the junction of Ferrymeade Avenue and Ruislip Road, Northolt.

A man then drove up to the victim and beckoned him to the passenger side of the car. He told the victim to open the door.

As the victim opened the car door the suspect revealed a silver-coloured handgun and demanded money. The victim slammed the car door shut and ran and the suspect drove off at speed towards Greenford.

The gunman is described as white, 60 years old, 5ft 6ins tall with short grey hair. He was wearing a light shirt and dark trousers and was driving a grey-coloured Peugeot hatchback.

Ealing has seen a steady increase in gun crime despite Home Office initiatives and Metropolitan Police attempts to crackdown on the use of firearms.

A month-long gun amnesty saw a total of 117 firearms and more than 3000 rounds of ammunition being handed in to Ealing police as part of a national campaign in April this year.

However, despite this, Inspector Gordon Beasley of Ealing Police admitted there was a rise in gun crime in the borough but is positive the police are doing all they can to combat it.

He said: "Yes there has been a rise in gun crime but we are adopting an intelligent-led approach to reduce it. We would also urge the public to report anyone seen in possession of a firearm to the police."

Anyone with any information on any of the above incidents or information on firearms can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.