Salford gunman targets boy and mother in house doorway

The force said it was not clear if the incident was linked to other shootings in Greater Manchester at the weekend

A seven-year-old boy and his mother were targets of a "shocking" shooting when they answered the door at their home in Salford, police have said.

The woman, 29, and her son were taken to hospital with leg wounds after the gunman struck in Gillingham Road, Eccles, Salford, on Monday night.

The victims' injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The force said the incident may be linked to a gang feud and the murder of Salford "Mr Big", Paul Massey, in July.

The boy followed as his mother answered the door last night to be confronted by two men looking for someone else, detectives said.

After a "short" exchange on the doorstep, one suspect then fired three shots "at close range", hitting the mother twice in the leg and the boy once.

The pair are in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

"This is a truly shocking set of circumstances in which a young boy and a woman have been injured after they were shot at by a gunman at their home," Det Supt Joanne Rawlinson said.

"This incident has only just happened, but there is a huge police effort under way to investigate this attack and find those responsible."

Ms Rawlinson said police do not know the motive behind the attack and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Neighbour Sue Barry said she "heard two loud bangs and thought they were fireworks".

"Next minute the police showed up and they've been there all night," she said.

Police are looking for two white men who were wearing baseball caps - one aged between 19 and 20 with a big build - who ran off after the shooting.

A neighbour spoke of hearing "two loud bangs"

Police said there was a "huge effort" under way to find those responsible for the shooting

Police said the shootings took place at about 21:30 BST