A father has described a “shootout” outside his East Finchley home which is believed to have left a man injured.

Armed police were called to Simms Gardens shortly after 4.30pm yesterday (Monday), but officers were unable to locate the victim.

The scene is currently cordoned off, and a SureStart nursery school in the street is closed as detectives investigate.

Neighbour Dominic Almeida described how he and his one-and-a-half year old son were lucky not to be caught in the gunfire after arriving home shortly before it happened.

He told the Ham&High: “I was cleaning the bathroom when I heard the shooutout.

“At first I thought it was fireworks, I heard one shot first and then two or three quickly afterwards.

“It was all over in 10 seconds.

“Before that I’d heard someone screaming.”

He said he went outside and saw two bikes in the road, one of which was picked up.

“I saw a black guy wearing a hoodie grab the bike and run off,” Mr Almeida said.

He continued: “I’ve never heard of something like this happening before, it’s usually quite safe.

“Over the past three or four days I’ve seen lots of kids who I haven’t seen here before.

“If I was any later in arriving back home, my son and I could have been caught in the gunfire.”

A witness told police they had seen a man with a shoulder injury.

The ‘shot’ man is described as black, wearing a dark blue/black jacket and jeans.

A Met Police spokesman said: “Officers are keen to trace him as he may require urgent medical treatment.”

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information has been urged to call police on 101.