POLICE have put out an urgent plea for witnesses after a gang shooting on a notorious Leytonstone estate.

The incident happened in the Cathall estate on August 10 at about 6.40pm and although no one was injured, detectives have said shots were fired all over the estate.

They said witnesses included children playing in the street as gang members terrorised the estate.

Officers added the area would be “flooded” with police during the investigation but need to speak to witnesses before the incident becomes “yesterday's news”.

Speaking at a meeting last night (Wednesday), aimed at encouraging witnesses to speak to police, Detective Constable Rick Nolan, of Operation Trident, said: “Just because no one was injured, that doesn't downgrade the severity of the incident.

“That's good luck, not good management. They weren't firing shots into the air – they're just bad shots.”

Officers assured residents they would be protected if they gave evidence but many who attended the meeting said they would be too frightened to come forward, describing the incident as "just another night on the Cathall estate".

One resident, who identified herself only as Patricia for fear of repercussions, said: "On this estate, you have to learn to accept the unacceptable just to get by.

"People end up in hospital when they're supposed to have been protected."

She added that there was a lack of faith in police as residents feel officers do not help even when they are called.

Another resident of the nearby Avenue estate, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: “Parents are very reluctant to say anything because their kids will get the aftershock.”

Another Cathall resident said: "It's really hard for the community to support the police and go to the next stage of naming names."

Patricia added that people fear ending up with serious injuries or losing their homes if they speak up.

But officers say it will only be possible to convict those responsible if people come forward to give statements.

DC Nolan added: “Police spoke to a lot of people on the night of the shooting and in the days that followed.

“We have a pretty good idea of what happened but that's just intelligence – to convert that to evidence, we need people to give us statements.”

Operation Trident, which formerly only dealt with gun crime in the black community, now investigates all gun crime in the capital.

Three men have been arrested over the shooting and have been bailed to return in October.

No descriptions of suspects have been released but police have confirmed more than one gang was involved in the shooting.

Anyone with information should contact the Cathall Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 8721 5004