A DARTFORD man has been shot and injured in what police believe could be an attempted gangland slaying.

But officers hunting the two men seen escaping the scene admit they will have a difficult job tracking them down.

The incident occured early on Sunday morning while the victim, whose identity has not been released by police, was walking along Green Street Green Road near Leigh City Technology College.

The 49-year-old was on foot when he was approached by another man brandishing a shotgun.

Police believe one shot was fired before the attacker was driven away in a waiting car. The shot was fired directly into the man's leg, but he managed to alert a friend in the area who rushed him to nearby Darent Valley Hospital where staff called the police.

The victim is currently stable and recuperating from a gunshot wound to his leg at the Dartford hospital. A hospital source said his condition was stable and he would remain in the hospital.

The source also confirmed he could be discharged later this week.

A police spokesman said: "Because the incident occurred at about 5am in the morning, it will be difficult to find people who saw it, but somebody may have heard a gunshot being fired or seen the car which drove away from the scene.

"We want anyone who may have seen or heard anything to come forward and help us with our inquiries. At the moment we are not ruling out any motives and are already pursuing a number of avenues of investigation."

If you saw or heard anything in the early hours of Sunday or if you spotted a silver or beige-coloured hatchback parked anywhere in Green Street Green, call police on 01322 283154 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

November 20, 2001 13:14

Patrick John