NEW pictures have emerged of the dramatic moment when an innocent man was surrounded and arrested by armed police in front of stunned shoppers in George Lane on Friday.

The 40-year-old was seized at around 3pm after an attempted carjacking behind the nearby Jaguar/Land Rover dealership on South Woodford High Road.

He was later released without charge when police realised they had got the wrong man.

Eddie Blackwell, of the Broadwalk in South Woodford, was shopping in George Lane when the drama unfolded, and took the photographs.

He said: "It was unbelievable. There were police everywhere with guns and everything just stopped.

"The police got this man over the bonnet and you could really see them pulling on his arm.

"He was screaming. He looked like he was in a lot of pain. I thought something was up because if he had done something why was he protesting so much?"

A police spokeswoman said the man was arrested because he closely matched the description given by witness in terms of his age and clothing.

However three witnesses told the Guardian after the carjacking that the real perpetrator had run off towards the High Road - the opposite direction of George Lane.

Meanwhile, officers are still hunting the gunman.

He is described as a white man, aged between 35 and 40 years old, wearing shorts, a green t-shirt, a purple hoodie, a dark baseball cap, sunglasses and white trainers.

The incident, which happened at around 2.30pm on Friday (August 21) saw a man point a handgun at a member of staff at the dealership as he tried to park a luxury Jaguar XF after a test drive.

The salesman escape unharmed, but the robber was unable to start the car and fled on foot.

Any witnesses or anyone with information are being urged to contact DS Brian Smith at Ilford police on 8345 2681 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.