A MAN is fighting for his life after being shot at point blank range as he sat in his car in Gospel Oak this morning (Wednesday).Armed police and emergency services rushed to the scene of the incident in Roderick Road on the edge of Hampstead Heath at ar

A MAN is fighting for his life after being shot at point blank range as he sat in his car in Gospel Oak this morning (Wednesday).

Armed police and emergency services rushed to the scene of the incident in Roderick Road on the edge of Hampstead Heath at around 11am.

According to witnesses the 30-year-old man, was sat in the driver's seat of his silver Mercedes when he was shot at close range through the window.

Firefighters helped pull the victim from his car before he was taken to an East London hospital by air ambulance.

According to residents the shooting was part of an ongoing feud related to drugs. They say it is not the first time the victim has been targeted. He has reportedly already survived a shooting in January this year when he was hit in the foot.

A young mother, whose 11-year-old son witnessed the shooting, said: "I was in the bedroom when I heard two blasts.

"I didn't know whether it was a shotgun or fireworks.

"My son, who was playing a video game, suddenly came in shaking.

"He just said to me he saw a black guy with a hood shooting another guy in his car."

Another resident from Roderick Road, who wants to remain nameless, said: "I heard two gunshots and a woman scream but no-one knew what was happening.

"I went outside and across the road and there was a silver car with a door open and a window smashed and all the neighbours were there talking.

"Everything seemed normal - you would never have thought there had been a shooting."

Police cordoned off Mansfield Road and part of the Waxham block of flats while forensics teams combed the area for clues.

A huge manhunt was launched to catch the shooter who is believed to have escaped over a footbridge onto Hampstead Heath.

Armed police hovered around Roderick Road but just before 1.30pm it appeared armed police had received some information that the suspect was close by.

Two officers, armed with machine guns were joined by a dog handler as they sprinted down Agincourt Road towards the Royal Free hospital, leaving shoppers and diners in nearby cafes shocked.

At one point officers were seen jumping into an ambulance to hitch a ride.

A police helicopter also hovered over head.

But Police have since confirmed no arrests have so far been made. Officers from the Met's Trident unit, which specialise in gun crime, are investigating the shooting.

Some residents on Roderick Road were still waiting to get back into the houses more than five hours after the incident.

One man, who asked to remain anonymous said: "This is normally a very very quiet road so this is a quite a shock. Normally when you are at home you don't hear a pin drop. You have this drug culture today, it is endemic everywhere.

"I don't feel in any danger but obviously you have to be aware.