RESIDENTS have shared their terror after being woken up by gunshots during the night.

This comes after a body was found in the water at a Southampton park.

Police said they were called to the scene in the early hours of the morning on Thursday.

Since then, a large area of Riverside Park has been cordoned off while a forensic tent was seen next to the river.

Police also found a large quantity of cannabis at an address as well as inside an abandoned vehicle, which was located nearby.

Officers said they are "open minded" as to the two incidents being connected and are trying to establish exactly what happened.

One nearby resident said: "I was woken up by cars screeching and a loud bang, and I thought oh my god that sounded like a gunshot. My daughter said she heard voices and shouting too. Then it all went quiet."

Another said: "I heard one gunshot during the middle of the night. It was loud enough."

One woman living in the area said: "We had a big window open during the night and my dog went absolutely mad at about quarter past one. I heard a massive, massive bang and then another one. My husband said it sounded like gunshots going off. At first I thought it was thunder because it was so loud."

Councillor David Fuller, who represents Bitterne Park ward, said: "It is unusual for police to be there. There are not normally problems there so it is worrying that this has happened because it is a residential area."

A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: "Police were called in the early hours of this morning (Thursday 5 Sept) to a report of gunshots heard in River Walk.

"Officers deployed to the area and subsequently located a large quantity of cannabis being cultivated at an address; additionally a vehicle containing cannabis was located abandoned nearby.

"Subsequently the body of a man was found in the water at Riverside Park.

"At this early stage of the investigation, officers are trying to establish the exact circumstances of what has happened and remain open minded as to the two incidents being connected.

"Officers remain at the scene in River Walk today, and a large area of Riverside Park has been cordoned off in order to allow officers to carry out initial enquiries.

"No arrests have been made at this time.

"There will be a number of police officers in the area today carrying out enquiries and providing reassurance to residents and visitors."

Anyone with any information is urged to police on 101 quoting Operation Telly.