A man was shot in broad daylight in a residential Smethwick street yesterday, just a few moments away from an infant school.

The victim, aged in his 30s, was gunned down shortly after 2.30pm yesterday in what is believed to have been a ‘drive-by’ style shooting in William Road.

He was shot in the leg and taken to hospital but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

A section of the street was cordoned off throughout the afternoon as police and forensics officers carried out investigations.

Annie Lennard Infant School is based just around the corner from the incident in The Oval, with many parents forced to take detours as they took their children home yesterday.

West Midlands police spokesman Steve Geary said: “We were called at 2.38pm to William Road in Smethwick to reports of a shot being fired.

“The victim is a man, believed to be in his 30s. He was taken to hospital with what appears to be a gun shot wound to the leg.

“His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.”

Neighbours spoke of their shock as they arrived home to find that gun crime had hit their streets.

Pensioners Pauline and Graham Wade said they had lived in William Road for more than 20 years but had never seen any similar trouble.

Mrs Wade, 67, said: “I’m glad we weren’t in at the time. It seems very strange that it should happen here.

“You sometimes see kids hanging around but you never see any big gangs or anything like that.

“This is normally such a quiet, lovely street.”

Lilian Percival, also of William Road, said she was asleep at the time of the shooting but the police had been to her house carrying out door-to-door inquiries.

“Nobody is safe anymore,” she said.

“We’ve never had any trouble like this before and I’ve been here 20 years. It’s a nice quiet street.”

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said he had young children and it was a worry to hear that a gun had been fired just a few doors down.

“It’s a bit close for comfort,”he said.

“I saw the road was closed off and assumed it was a road accident but this was a shock.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is urged to contact Smethwick police on 0845 1135000.