Police are hunting a gunman after a man was shot at an 18th birthday party.

The shooting happened at the event at the Preston Mall Youth & Community Centre, The Mall, Preston Hill, Kenton.

The party had been advertised on social media websites, which led to crowds of uninvited people attending the event.

Officers say just before midnight a firework was let off inside the centre of the hall, creating panic in the crowd and making people run for the exits.

More fireworks were set off outside the venue, at which point a man fired a handgun in the direction of people fleeing the scene.

An 18-year-old man was hit and taken to hospital where the bullet fragment was removed. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Detective Inspector Glenn Butler, from the Trident Gang Crime Command said: “I urgently need people to contact me so I can take this man off our streets before we have another fatality in our community.

“This was an act of wanton recklessness; anyone fleeing from the venue could have been shot and killed. If anyone has information I urge them to contact police as soon as possible.”

Police are calling for anyone with any information about the incident, which happened on Saturday October, 25, to get in contact.