Two men were yesterday recovering in hospital after being shot in a Birmingham pub.

An un-named 29-year-old victim suffered multiple injuries in the incident.

Two other people, a 25-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, were also injured in the shoot-ing in The Midland Tavern pub, Nechells, in the early hours of Saturday. Detectives said the incident followed a "disturbance" in the pool room of the pub, which had been hosting a disco and barbecue.

The three casualties were understood to have been taken by friends to hospital. The two men remained in hospital yesterday . Both were said to be stable. The woman was treated and discharged.

It was not clear whether they had been specifically targeted or were the innocent victims of mis-taken identity, but sources have said Yardie gangs are suspected. The Yardies are violent gangs that originated in the slums of Jamaica where violence, often drug-related, was rife.

Acting Det Chief Insp Derek Quinn, from Queens Road CID, said: "At about 12.30am on Saturday morning there was a disturbance in the pool room at the pub.

"We know there were a number of people drinking and socialising in the pub as there was a disco and barbecue at the time.

"Following the disturbance, a shooting occurred in the pub which spilled into the pool room. There is no known motive for the incident at this stage."

West Midlands Police said two men, aged 21 and 36, and a 33-year-old woman, were later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. They were questioned and later released on police bail.

A 47-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. He was also released pending further inquiries.

The incident came less than a week after Birmingham hosted a major conference to find new ways of tackling the guns and gangs problem and also an annual peace march in the inner-city to remember those killed in street violence.

The pub is in Erskine Street and is surrounded by factories. It is a popular weekend haunt for many partygoers who enjoy reggae and dance-hall music.