A man escaped death by inches after a pair of masked gunmen ambushed his car and blasted him through the rear side window.

The victim, a passenger in a silver Vauxhall Cavalier car, was only saved by the thickness of his jacket, say police.

They say the attackers used a long barreled weapon, either a rifle or a shotgun, to shoot at the 41-year-old.

Earlier they had blocked Curtis Mill Lane, Navestock with bin bags stuffed with rubbish.

When the driver stopped and got out to remove the bags, the attackers struck, firing through the side passenger window.

They escaped at speed in a Ford Orion containing a third person.

The incident happened at 2.30am on Saturday, only hours after an incident outside a bar in Brentwood between the victim and another man.

A police spokesman said: "This man has had a very lucky escape. This could have been much worse and he is fortunate to be alive.

"We are obviously putting great effort into trying to trace those responsible and we are appealing for anyone with information to come forward."

The police spokesman added that the weapon used "was a long barreled weapon, not a handgun, either a shotgun or a rifle."

Anyone with any information on the shooting, or the earlier incident involving the victim and another man at Bar West One on Kings Road, Brentwood at about midnight, should call Det Insp Tim Wills at Harlow CID on 01279 641212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 .

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