Newport shooting: Hunt for car after three women hurt

Police are urgently trying to trace a grey Mini Cooper car after three women were injured in a shooting at a hairdressing salon in Newport.

One woman was shot in the knee in Carol Ann's salon in Malpas Road. Two others suffered a neck and an arm injury.

Gwent Police are searching for a man who entered the shop with a gun, at about 14:20 BST.

A police helicopter has been circling overhead in the search as forensic teams examine the scene.

The grey Mini Cooper which police are looking for has the registration number OE55 CVB.

Police warned anyone who sees the car not to approach it but to call Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Kataru Reddy, who works at the Shell petrol station opposite the salon, heard the shooting.

"I heard two shots. I know that a lady was shot," he said.

Police want to trace this Mini Cooper which was seen leaving the area after the attack

Mr Reddy said Malpas Road north of the city centre was closed after police vehicles arrived about 10 minutes later with a team which included five police marksmen.

Two of the injured women were taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital. The third is also receiving medical treatment. None of their injuries are said to be life-threatening.

Gwent Police said they had recovered the gun used in the attack as well as shell casings.

Susan Wakeham, who runs Hairs & Graces hair salon across the road, said she knew the owner of the premises.

She said: "You don't expect something like this to happen on a busy main road on a Friday afternoon. It's quite scary actually.

"I know the salon owner. I know of the girl who's been shot but I don't know her in person. I know the salon owner and she must be in a hell of state."

Two elderly customers were seen running from the salon with towels on their heads and screaming for help.

Police have sectioned off the road around the salon while a forensic science team carries out an investigation.

Eyewitness Joyce Bigmoore arrived at the scene just as the gunman ran down a nearby road.

She said: "It's a very quiet area normally."

Amanda Butler was travelling in a car on her way to a doctor's surgery when the shooting happened.

She told BBC Wales: "We saw a large amount of police officers and vehicles.

"You could hear the helicopter above … people at the surgery were coming in quite shellshocked."

Other local people gave accounts of what they have seen or heard.

One shop owner said: "I heard a bang and a scream. We've just been told to stay in the shop."

Another added: "We've been told to stay inside."

Labour councillor Paul Cockeram, who represents the Shaftsbury ward where the incident happened, said he was shocked.

"It's not an area known for violence - I just can't believe it.

"I don't have any problems with antisocial behaviour in the ward - I know of areas where something like this is more likely to happen."

Traffic congestion was caused by the closure of Malpas Road, the main A4042 route into the city centre from the M4 motorway, although it was reopened shortly before 18:00 BST.

Gwent Police later said the bottom of the road was closed and advised drivers to find alternative routes.