POLICE are hunting a gunman after a man was shot in an attack thought to be linked to former associates of murdered gangland figure Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll.

The 33-year-old man was approached by a hooded man in a high visibility jacket who shot him near to St Helen's Primary School in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, at around 3pm yesterday.

Parents collecting their children from the school fled, armed officers and a police helicopter was called in to help with the search for the suspect, who is in his mid-40s and five ft 10 inches to 6ft tall.

The victim took himself to hospital where he is receiving treatment.

It is understood the incident in the town's Dornoch Place followed a chase involving two men in two vehicles. A burnt out silver Volkswagen Golf was found in a nearby lane. Nobody else was injured in the shooting.

Reports linked the incident to the shooting of Carroll in a car outside Asda in Robroyston in January 2010, less than a mile from yesterday's incident.

William Paterson, 35, is serving a life sentence for the murder after being convicted at the High Court in Glasgow in May this year.

Following yesterday's shooting, a major incident room has been set up at Kirkintilloch Police Office and detectives are following a number of line of inquiry.

Detective Inspector Greig Wilkie said: "I would appeal to anyone in the area of Dornoch Place at this time and could have seen anything susp-icious to come forward and help with our inquiry.

"A grey Volkswagen Golf was also recovered burnt out in the area of Wood Lane which is a short distance away and this vehicle is suspected to be involved.

"I would appeal for anyone who has seen a vehicle of that description near to the incident or where it was recovered to contact the police urgently."

Local residents were told by police to stay indoors as they sealed off the street where the incident happened and three neighbouring roads, including the one in which the school is located.

One 32-year-old local mother described chaotic scenes at the rear of the school as school finished for the day.

She said: "There was a guy in a high vis jacket who seemed to be acting suspiciously.

“You couldn’t see his face, he was all covered up, his jacket was covering his face. The next moment he ran and then we heard three shots.

“We just froze for a second, then we realised they were gun shots and we ran.

“It all happened so quickly. I don’t know if anybody was injured because everybody was just running.

"My wee boy was so frightened.

“We were in shock. I’m worried about taking my kids back to school on Tuesday.”

Chief Inspector Craig Smith said: "Please be assured that this incident did not take place within the local school grounds and does not involve anyone from the local school."

Gordon Currie, director of education and children's services at East Dunbartonshire Council, said: "East Dunbartonshire Council has received reports of an incident which allegedly took place today in Bishopbriggs.

"As it is a Police Scotland matter, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."