A man suffered serious injuries when he was shot and dumped in a quiet high street in broad daylight.

Police and ambulance crews were called to Bean village on Saturday afternoon to reports that a 30-year-old man had been shot in the leg.

Witnesses reported seeing the man dumped from a van outside the village post office, in High Street at 4pm.

Someone dialled 999 while drinkers at The Black Horse pub dashed to the man's side.

Parts of High Street were cordoned off for several hours while forensic officers combed the scene.

Jackie Bettell, of High Street, said: "I heard all the sirens and came out to see what was happening. There were about eight police cars, paramedics and forensics were on the scene.

"I saw a young man propped up against a wall, his face was white and he was very shaken. A couple of lads ran down from the pub to help him.

"We heard he had been thrown out of a van and had been shot in the leg."

A police spokeswoman said officers are investigating the incident.

An ambulance spokesman said the man had two gunshot wounds to his right leg.

He was taken to Darent Valley Hospital for treatment.

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