A gunman blasted three rounds into a car left parked on a residential Colchester street.

Police believe a Jaguar XJ6 pulled up next to a white Suzuki on New Kiln Road, Lexden, at 11.13pm on Monday night and opened fire.

The Jaguar then drove away at high speed leaving the off-road vehicle, which had nobody in it at the time, with extensive damage.

Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said detectives were not ruling out a gangland-style vendetta.

He said: "There is no doubt that it was a deliberate act to damage the jeep. We would interpret it as a threat, warning or retaliation to the people who own the vehicle." Det Sgt Napier said: "Three gunshots were heard in the road. We believe an XJ6 Jaguar made off at high speed after someone fired three shots directed at a white Suzuki jeep parked outside a house." Nobody was injured in the attack. Police carrying out investigations recovered shotgun cartridges at the scene. Det Sgt Napier said: "The Suzuki suffered extensive damage. Three blasts of a shotgun does a fair bit of damage." He added: "It is not uncommon for vehicles to be damaged in disputes but it is unusual and highly dangerous to have someone using a firearm to do it. "We would like to know if anyone in the road looked out of the window and saw anything."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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