An eight-year-old girl has been seriously hurt in a shooting in west London.

The child and a man, 34, were taken to hospital after they were shot in Ladbroke Grove just after 5.30pm on Sunday, the Metropolitan police said.

Supt Owen Renowden said: “This is an appalling incident that has left two people seriously injured, including a young girl, who thankfully is in a stable condition this morning.

“I am appealing to the public who may have been in the area at the time of the shooting. Did you hear any gunshots around 5.30pm yesterday evening? Did you see anyone fleeing from the area?

“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have any information surrounding this incident. Your information matters, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.”

The girl’s injuries are not life-threatening, the Met said, and officers are awaiting an update on the man’s condition.

A witness told the PA news agency that she had seen a gunman shooting directly into a car.

Sharon, who was in the area to visit her mother and did not want to share her surname, said: “The guy was shooting directly into a car. I was literally coming out of the exit to my mum’s block of flats and as I was going out I saw a guy shooting into the car multiple times.

“He was firing directly, like at close range, as if you’re standing to open a door, they were shooting directly into it. I was completely in shock and I just ran back up the stairs because I was really scared.

“Then I looked and I heard screaming afterwards, and then people coming out to call the police.”

Sharon added: “I’ve noticed in the last several years it has become a lot more unsafe for the people here.”

A 64-year-old witness, who spoke to the Metro newspaper, described the girl’s mother shouting. “I heard shots, and then a woman shouting, ‘My baby, my baby’s been shot’ ... it makes me sick to think about it now.

“There were four or five shots, there was screaming, it’s horrible. A neighbour went out with a duvet to cover the injured.”

A woman living near the scene, who did not want to be named, said she was scared after the shooting. She was in her kitchen cooking and thought fireworks were going off, before armed police arrived and she discovered what had happened.

The local Labour MP Joe Powell, who represents Kensington and Bayswater, said on X: “These senseless acts of violence have no place on our streets.

“I know residents in the local community will be rightly concerned for their safety after several recent incidents in the neighbourhood. We must work together to better prevent these horrific crimes from happening, and hold those responsible to account.”

A 32-year-old woman was taken to hospital as a precaution but was not injured.

Witnesses can contact police on 101 giving the reference CAD5238/24NOV or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online to remain anonymous.