man shot in shop near High Road, Woodford Green

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "We were called to reports of a man being shot in the High Road at 1.53pm.

"Police and ambulances attended the scene.

"The victim is a man in his 20s.

"He was taken by ambulance to hospital suffering from gunshot injuries.

"His condition is currently serious but stable."

Unconfirmed reports suggest the incident happened at the Cakes and Shakes ice cream parlour.

It has also been confirmed that there was a shooting at the same shop on Saturday night.

A spokesman for the Met added: "Police were called to a commercial premises in Woodford High Road at 6.45pm on Saturday, November 12, following reports of a shot fired.

"On arrival officers found damage to a window at the front of the premises and evidence of a gunshot having been discharged.

"A small number of people were in the building when the incident occurred, however no injuries were reported.

"Officers from Trident are now leading the investigation."

Police also confirmed that no arrests have been made in regard to either incident at this time.

Several business owners in the area told the Guardian that they received leaflets from the Met's Gun Crime Unit, Operation Trident, this morning.

One local shop owner, who asked not to be named, described today's shooting.

He said: "I heard two or three shots.

"Five cars with armed police turned up and an ambulance.

"They took a man away to hospital. It looked to me like he was alive, but he had been shot.

"Someone shot the window out on Saturday night at about 7.15pm. Maybe that was some sort of warning shot."

As of 5.10pm, the road was still closed with police saying they did not know when they would reopen it.

There are reports of long traffic jams on Chelmsford Road, and the bus routes 179 and W13 are on diversion.

Residents living in properties behind the police cordon are currently not being allowed to return home.

More to follow.