Two people arrested in connection with a shooting in Lordswood on Friday have been release pending further inquiries - as detectives reveal they are treating the incident as an attempted murder.

The pair, a 35-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, who are both from Chatham, were arrested by armed police in an area of Will Adams Way in Gillingham just before 2pm yesterday.

The police helicopter was scrambled and both were taken into police custody and questioned, but have now been released pending further inquiries until Tuesday, March 15.

The arrests come after a man was shot in the legs through his front door at his home in Weybridge Close, Chatham at about 9pm on Friday.

The injured man, who has not been named, suffered a serious injury to his leg.

People living in the quiet street were told to stay in their homes while armed police carried out extensive searches of the area in a bid to find the gunman.

The victim underwent surgery in a bid to save his leg on Saturday.

One woman, who did not want to be named, was among neighbours told by police to stay inside and lock their doors.

The victim’s home was still cordoned off on Saturday and the smashed window in the front door could clearly be seen from the street.

Later the same day, police removed the door for forensic examinations.

Detectives’ door-to-door inquiries continued until Sunday.

One man who lives nearby and did not want to be named said: “I came back late on Friday night and there were police everywhere. I could hear dogs barking.

“A policeman told me the man had suffered an injury to the lower part of his leg.”

Another resident, who also did not want to be named said: “I was talking to someone who knew the family and they said they couldn’t think of a reason why anyone would want to shoot him.

"It’s actually quite shocking someone has been shot. It’s pretty quiet here in the road usually, we don’t have trouble here.”

Police have refused to release any other details about his identity or his age.

Anyone with any information should call 101, quoting reference 29-1393.