The estate in Feltham where a man was shot is rife with drugs, according to resident living there.

The person was speaking as MP Seema Malhotra visited Waterloo Estate in Southern Avenue following the shooting on May 31 .

The Feltham and Heston MP met Hounslow Police chief inspector Wayne Matthews the day after a 17-year-old injured was shot , and was told crimes of this nature were ‘extremely low in Hounslow’.

But the resident said there is growing concern for safety on the estate. Wishing to remain anonymous, they said: “I’m not surprised at the shooting at all. I don’t know what it was about but would not be surprised if it was drug related.

MP for Feltham Seema Malhotra talking to Councillor Alan Mitchell of Feltham West ward and Hounslow Chief Inspector Wayne Matthews at scene of shooting in Feltham

“The estate is full of drug dealers/drug users, lots of youths hanging around openly smoking cannabis, empty balloon canisters are discarded around the estate and needles have been found in the playgrounds and by the community centre.

“It is worrying that innocent people living on the estate are in danger of being caught up in the crossfire of the actions of all these people.”

Residents say police were on the scene within minutes and were told to close their windows and doors as they searched for the gunman, who is still at large.

Another neighbour told getwestlondon of the moment he heard the gun shot. Also wishing to remain anonymous, he said: “I heard a single bang around 9.15 last night. I didn’t think anything of it, you hear bangs all the time.

"Within minutes the place was full of police cars, they had the flashing lights on. The police were everywhere.”

Police presence remains following shooting on Waterloo Estate, Southern Avenue in Feltham

Ms Malhotra MP visited the Southern Avenue on Wednesday (June 1) afternoon to speak to police and people living on the estate. She was told by Ch Insp Matthews that police are looking at whether the crime, which appears without motive, was a mistaken identity .

She said: “I was absolutely shocked [when I heard about the shooting] and I know that that feeling is resonating around the community. It’s such a rare thing in our area, that’s why we’re so lucky.

“It’s such a rare thing to have any sort of gun crime.

“These moments straight after an incident like this leave us in some vulnerability but this is a place here in Feltham that we’re incredibly proud of the strength of our community spirit. People want to be able to come together, make sure that they’re doing all that they can, the police are doing all that they can and that we stay safe.”

She also said it was important people contacted police with information: “We want to make sure that the victims and their family know that we are all thinking of them as well, but to make sure that that information comes in early and that the community feels that they are stronger together.”

The victim remains in a serious but stable condition .

There have been no arrests. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation should call Trident officers based at Hendon via 101. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.