Police are warning the public not to approach a suspected gun man, as possible sightings flood in.

The hunt for 27-year-old Francis O’Donoghue is ongoing throughout west Essex and east London following a non-fatal shooting on a travellers’ site last week.

Mr O’Donoghue is believed to have shot two men in their 20s on a site close to the Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club last Tuesday as a result of a dispute with neighbours.

Detectives are focusing their attention on traveller sites in Hertfordshire, Essex and London where it is thought the glazier may be hiding out with friends or relatives.

Essex Police’s Superintendent Trevor Roe said: "Francis O’Donoghue was definitely at the site when the shooting took place so our primary focus is to find him and take him off the streets.

“The attack was initiated by an ongoing neighbour feud which began earlier in the day outside a shop in Harold Wood.

“Again, we would urge anyone who knows him to avoid him purely because he is in possession of a handgun and those who come into contact with him should call us immediately. There is nothing though to suggest that people in the wider community are at risk of being injured.”

Francis O’Donoghue is described as white, approximately 5ft 11ins, of medium build with short-brown hair.

He has protruding ears and speaks with an Irish accent.

Anyone with information in connection with this shooting is urged to contact detectives at Harlow’s Major Investigation Team on 101, email them on SCDappeals@essex.pnn.police.ukor call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Anyone who knows of the man’s whereabouts is urged to call 999.