DETECTIVES investigating a shooting in an Essex pub car park believe the victim was targeted in an attempted murder.

Four men went into the Archers in Garron Lane, South Ockenden, at about 10.20pm last night hunting a local man in his 20s.

One of the men was armed with a shotgun. That gun was subsequently fired in the car park as the intended victim fled the scene.

Nobody was injured.

Police are treating the incident as atrempted murder and are carrying out house to house inquiries in the area. An officer has also been stationed at the pub.

All four men were white, aged in their 30s and 40s and one had faded tattoos on both arms. They left the pub in two cars - a dark BMW and dark coloured Ford Mondeo.

DCI Mark Hall from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “I believe that this was not a random attack and the victim was targeted. I need to speak to all the people who were in the pub last night and anyone who was in the vicinity and can help us identify these dangerous men.

“This is a highly populated area and to discharge a firearm is reckless in the extreme.”

Anyone with any information to identify the suspects is asked to contact the Brentwood Major Investigation team on 101 or e mail SCDappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk, or give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

In a separate incident, police are appealing for information after guns were swiped in a burglary in Church Crescent, Mountnessing, near Chelmsford.

Between 10.15am and 3.30pm on Friday a burglar got into the property through a window and stole two shotguns and a Tyson air rifle which is a rare model, 22 single shot bolt action, nico sterling and with a 4-12 magnification telescopic sight.

The total haul is thought to be worth �1,700. Witnesses report seeing two men in a white van around the time of the burglary, and banging was thought to have been heard from the address at around 12.30pm.

Investigating officer, Dc Sam Boyd, said: “We are keen to speak to a taxi driver who was seen in the area at around 12.30pm, as he could hold information vital to our investigation. We also understand that a scrap collector could also have been in the area around 10am and may have seen the suspects.

“The air rifle that was stolen is very distinctive, and we want to hear from anyone that is approached to buy it or may have seen it offered for sale. If you are approached to also buy two shotguns under suspicious circumstances, we want to hear from you.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dc Sam Boyd at the Basildon target offender team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.