MYSTERY surrounds an apparent shooting in Epping last week.

Residents living in Brook Road say their peace was shattered late last Wednesday night when a group of men began firing shotguns in a nearby field, before driving off on at least one quadbike.

Police however have downplayed the drama and said they will not investigate further, claiming officers found no evidence of any gunfire, despite the testimony of dozens of witnesses.

Suggestions that the sound residents heard came from farm machinery has also been dismissed by neighbours, who point to the fact that there is no farm nearby.

One resident, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, criticised the police for not “taking it seriously.”

He said: “This is a residential street with lots of families living here and it is very worrying to think people can go around shooting guns metres from our homes and get away with it, whatever it was they were doing.

“It concerns me that these men are still out there and could come back.”

When the Guardian visited the street nearly everyone we spoke to said they were convinced the sounds were gunshots, and many said they had seen the men.

Resident Simon Jones said: “It was definitely gunfire, no doubt about it.

“I had a look out of my window and saw all these lights in the field – it certainly wasn't farm machinery.”

Neighbour Jane Willcox said: “I was just seeing to one of my children when I heard it.

“There was a series of really loud bangs.

“I came downstairs and had a look, there was definitely a motorbike or something like that in the field – you could see its lights.”

Resident Keith Smith said he had discovered some freshly killed rabbits at the scene while he was walking his dog the next day.

He said: “It did sound like a gun. It could have been kids messing around and shooting animals, but it would be good to find out what actually happened.”

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said they had carried out an “extensive” search of the area but could not act further without any evidence.

Did you see what happened? Contact reporter Daniel Binns on 0779 547 6625 or via email at dbinns@london.newsquest.co.uk