A POLICE officer was shot by a gunman on the run after a double shooting which left one man dead and his partner critically injured.

A manhunt was launched yesterday for Raoul Thomas Moat, who was released from prison on Thursday and is understood to be the former partner of the injured woman, named locally as Samantha Stobbart.

Detectives suggested the first attack was motivated by a "grudge" against the couple, but now believe his anger is directed at the police.

The couple, who have not been officially named, were targeted in the early hours of yesterday morning, at about 2.40am, when the gunman fired a shot through Miss Stobbart's living room window.

Moments later her partner left the house, only to be struck down around 50 metres from the front door.

Less than 24 hours later, a man detectives identified as Moat was linked to another shooting in which a policeman was seriously injured.

The uniformed motor patrol officer was blasted as he was carrying out a static patrol on a roundabout joining the A1 and A69 in East Denton, Newcastle, at about 12.45am.

He is currently being treated in Newcastle General Hospital where his condition is described as serious but is not thought to be life-threatening.

Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim said: "This was an unprovoked attack on a Northumbria police officer as he carried out his duty.

"My thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this time. We strongly believe that this was carried out by the same man who shot two people in Gateshead early yesterday morning.

"Raoul Thomas Moat is a wanted man. He is very dangerous and should not be approached by members of the public.

"We know that Moat held a grudge against the people he targeted in Gateshead yesterday.

"It is now believed that his grudge at the moment is with the police."

Detectives said they were pursuing several lines of inquiry and all available resources and tactics were being used.

Moat, 37, from Newcastle, had just been released from Durham prison after serving a sentence for assault. He is believed to be a former nightclub bouncer.

Meanwhile, Miss Stobbart's half-sister, Kelly Stobbart, has told how her sister is no longer on a life support machine and is speaking to those around her.

Kelly Stobbart, 27, said: "Her dad has been speaking with the doctors today. He told me she is no longer on a life support machine and she's speaking.

"He said Samantha put her arm up to stop the shot and it went through her arm and liver.

"He told me it was a shot gun that she was shot with but the bullet didn't separate into pieces.

"We're all so relieved she's talking but we still don't know the full extent of her injuries."

Miss Stobbart is still in a critical condition in hospital where she was said to be under armed police guard.