A man was blasted in the leg with a shotgun as he walked through the Greenstead estate in Colchester.

Armed police were deployed and roadblocks set up following the incident last night.

The victim, a man believed to be in his 30s, was shot shortly after 10pm in Magnolia Drive.

His attackers ran off and a passerby used the victim's mobile phone to call police.

Essex Police spokesman Peter Laurie said: "He said he was approached from behind by two men. One of them shot him in the left leg just below the knee."

The injured man was taken by ambulance to Colchester General Hospital and later transferred to a specialist unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

His wounds were described by police as "not believed to be life-threatening" and he was due to be interviewed today.

Police, including armed officers, set up roadblocks but the two men and the gun have yet to be found.

Mr Laurie said: "At this stage we are unable to establish a motive. We have got to interview the victim fully."

If you have any information, contact police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Scene - Greenstead today.

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