Two people have been found dead inside a vehicle at Plumpton, about 36km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria Police say.

Ambulance Victoria said it was called to a reported shooting earlier Thursday morning but did not treat anyone.

The silver Ford is reportedly covered in bullet holes.

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Police were called to the scene at Taylors Road just after 11:30am, and said the two bodies were believed to be of a man and woman.

A “long-arm” firearm was also found in the car, police said.

“The council worker was obviously shocked and he’s quite distressed and he’s undergoing counselling at the moment,” Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey said.

“It was certainly a gruesome discovery by this council worker here this morning.”

Investigators said they did not believe anyone else was involved in the deaths and were not looking for a third party.

Homicide squad members had also arrived at the scene.

A woman who lives in the area, but did not want to be named, said she was upset to learn about the deaths, the ABC reported.

She said a silver Ford had been dumped by the side of the road for a number of days.

She said cars were often abandoned in the rural location and she did not think much of it.

Detective Bailey said the bodies had not yet been formally identified.

“However from the information we have, we believe the people are known to each other and we aren’t looking for a third person,” he said.

“The cause of death for both of these people is yet to be established.

“We currently have ballistics and other forensic teams here at the scene to establish what’s occurred.

“We believe this vehicle may have been here as early as Tuesday.”

The circumstances of the deaths are under investigation, and police have appealed for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, Fairfax Media reported that on Monday, at a nearby street of The Esplanade in Taylors Hill, a man was found fighting for his life after a hit and run linked to a drug-related home invasion.

The man, aged in his 40s, was taken to the Alfred hospital in a critical condition after being struck by a car shortly after midday, following a home invasion in Caroline Springs.

After the crash, a large bag of marijuana was found next to an overturned car on Taylors Road.