POLICE are appealing for information after a 23-year-old man was shot dead.

Officers were called at 2.03am on Sunday (May 30) to reports of a man lying injured in Howson Road, Brockley.

Matthew Clement was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hugh Metcalfe, 29, lives in the same road and said he heard loud bangs during the night.

The music student said: "I heard and saw fireworks in the evening but then later in the night I heard seven loud bangs - I remember counting them.

"I assumed they were fireworks but maybe that was the sound of a gun going off.

News Shopper: Neighbours say they heard loud bangs during the night

"This is not really a bad area. I had my van stolen from outside my house once but I don't see a lot of trouble."

Another neighbour who asked not to be named said: "It's just a terrible tragedy. It is horrible to think that something like that is happening so close to your home.

"I assumed the bangs were the fireworks, but then I heard in the morning that someone had been shot." A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a gunshot wound.

The incident is being investigated by the Met’s Trident unit, which deals with gun crime in the black community.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Hutchison said: “This murder took place in a quiet residential street in the early hours.

“We need to speak to anyone who heard or saw people in Howson Road, Whitbread Road or the surrounding streets between midnight and 2am on Sunday (May 30), and to anyone who heard shots or sounds of a disturbance.”

He added: “We also need to hear from anyone who has information about the shooting.

“We rely on the help of the community to find the perpetrators and get justice for Matthew and his family.”

There have been no arrests.

Anyone with information should call 020 8247 4553 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.