POLICE were last night still waiting to speak to a man gunned down in a shotgun attack outside a pub.

The man, who has not been named, was left lying in a pool of blood for 30 minutes before paramedics were allowed into the Rovers Return pub in Ward Street, Hendon, Sunderland, on Monday.

The victim, who is in his 40s, was in the pub doorway when he was shot in the left thigh at close range, just after 7pm on Monday. His attacker sped off on a motorcycle.

Paramedics received an anonymous call to the pub, but had to wait for 30 minutes while armed police threw a cordon around the area before going to tend to Mr Bannon, who was said to be minutes from death when they finally arrived.

Last night, he was still in Sunderland Royal Infirmary, where his condition was described as serious but stable, and not life-threatening.

Northumbria Police believe the attack was the result of a feud between two families.

Detective Inspector Neil Adamson said: "This was a serious incident and we need to speak to anyone who has information which could be relevant to our inquiries."

The shooting took place just yards from where Iranian asylum seeker Peyman Bahmani was murdered. But police said the shotgun attack was not racially motivated.

Yesterday, police carried out a search of the area and conducted house to house inquiries. They also completed a forensic search of the pub.

A police spokeswoman said detectives had identified several witnesses, but were still keen to trace the man seen leaving the scene on a motorcycle just after the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0191- 454-7555, extension 66144.