Norwich shooting: 'Shotgun' fired near Fat Cat pub leaves teen hurt

Police said the wooded area by Adelaide Street and West End Street in Norwich remained sealed off

A 19-year-old man is in a serious condition after a shotgun was fired in his back near a city pub.

Armed police were called to a park near the Fat Cat pub off West End Street in Norwich at 02:00 BST, after residents reported hearing an "altercation" followed by a gunshot.

The teenage victim, from London, was taken to hospital, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Police said they were investigating if it was linked to "drug activity".

Police are still at the scene to "provide reassurance"

One resident, who did not want to be named, said she was too "scared" to look out her window after hearing a gun being fired.

"I was deep asleep and heard a gunshot and then a car took off in a very rapid way," she said.

"It's terrible, we have little children."

The area along West End Street and Adelaide Street has been cordoned off for forensic inquiries to take place

Another resident, who only wanted to be named as Jane, said her 10-year-old granddaughter had been banned from playing outside because of "open" drug-taking in the area.

"The park and garages around Adelaide Street are known every day for drug use," she said.

The landlord of the Fat Cat said the park opposite his pub was being used by drug dealers

The landlord of the Fat Cat pub said the park opposite had become a no-go area for locals.

Colin Keatley said: "They are drug dealing in the park - it's become a daily occurrence. People we've never seen before, all nationalities."

Norfolk Chief Constable Simon Bailey said it was the first time a firearm "had been discharged in the county under these circumstances".

"We have declared a critical incident because of the severity - a young man is in hospital with shotgun injuries and we are looking at the background behind that incident," he said.

The shooting was thought to be an "isolated" case with "no wider risk" to the public, said police. It is not being linked to a fatal stabbing in a Norwich car park on Saturday.

MP Clive Lewis, Labour, denied the park was a no-go area and called for more resources for police and social infrastructure programmes.

He added a "full and frank conversation" was needed on how drugs and the "county lines" problem are tackled.