Detectives investigating the shooting of a man in a quiet road in Hook a month ago said he was deliberately picked out for the attack.

The 56-year-old man, who has not been officially identified, was shot once in the torso in Elmcroft Drive, close to the A3, at about 11.30am on December 7.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Trident team said the man, who was released from hospital the day after the shooting, was co-operating with the investigation.

But they declined to release descriptions of the attackers for “operational reasons”.

The make of the gun has not yet been identified and no one has been arrested.

After the shooting officers from Operation Trident met Hook residents to calm fears about the shooting.

One Hook resident said police leaflets pushed through doors had given the impression a gunman was on the loose.

She said: “Some residents thought someone was running around with a gun. It caused some scares.

“I don’t imagine for a minute this was a random shooting.”

Community police officers have been co-ordinating reassurance patrols and visiting schools and homes to answer any questions.

Kingston’s borough commander Martin Greenslade said: “Incidents such as these are rare. We recognise the vast majority of the borough’s communities are law-abiding and their safety is our main concern.”

After the attack police said they wanted witnesses who were shopping at the nearby Ace of Spades parade, or who may have seen a dark grey estate car in the area.

Waste disposal workers in a Veolia collection lorry are believed to have seen the aftermath of the attack and were questioned by police in the road.

Witnesses should call the Trident Shootings team on 020 8785 8580 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.