THE hunt was continuing today for a gunman who shot a 48-year-old man outside his Kent home.

Detectives say the drama began to unfold shortly before 9.30pm on Saturday in Bexley High Street when the victim was shot twice.

He had had opened his front door after hearing a loud bang outside. On investigation he noticed a house brick and went to pick it up.

At this point he saw approaching him a man who then fired two shots at him. His wife, who was inside, called 999.

The victim, who has not been named, was taken to hospital by ambulance. His condition is said to be stable.

Police were quickly on the scene and sealed off Bexley High Street from the roundabout in the village to the Vicarage Road junction.

A search helicopter was also called, but the gunman had escaped.

At the time, Bexley village was busy with people enjoying a Saturday evening out. Customers in nearby pubs were prevented from entering the High Street until the road was reopened.

Neighbours spoke of their shock at a shooting so close to home. One said: "I didn’t think anything of it because it was bonfire night and there were bangs all night.

"You don’t expect this sort of thing to happen here. When the pubs close it can get a bit noisy, but apart from that it’s not a bad neighbourhood."

Detectives from the Met’s Trafalgar team are appealing for information and witnesses to the attempted murder. The suspect is described as black, wearing a blue hooded coat, blue baggy jeans, trainers and a woolly hat.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8217 7355, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.