A MAN has been shot in the legs outside a Salford pub which was the scene of another gunfire incident two months ago.

The 43-year-old man was blasted by a masked gunman outside the Dog and Partridge in Bolton Road, Irlams o' th' Height, Salford, on Saturday night.

It is understood he had earlier left the pub, gone to a nearby one and been involved in a fight and was shot in the road while returning to the Dog and Partridge.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and police say his injuries are not life-threatening.

The road outside the pub remained cordoned off early today to allow police to carry out a detailed examination of the scene.

The shooting follows an incident on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in March when terrified drinkers dived for cover after two gunmen opened fire in the pub.

A 26-year-old fled into the premises after being hit in the leg outside but was fired at again by a masked gunman.

A 50-year-old woman was hit by splinters as a bullet hit a door and suffered an ankle injury.

Following the incident landlord Mark King hired door staff for weekends to prevent any repeat.

Mr King, who has been at the pub just over nine months, said: "I think the door staff heard a couple of shots and went out to find him lying on the floor in middle of the road.

"He had been in the pub earlier and left. I believe he was on his way back to the pub when it happened.

Incident

"I think this is totally separate from the incident that happened before.

"We have door staff on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and we regularly liaise with the police to prevent this sort of thing happening.

"After what happened at Easter I thought police patrols in the area would have been stepped up to stop incidents like this.

"I'm just very annoyed because I've put so much time and effort in to build this place up from what it was. It does us no favours at all.

"It happened outside the pub but it does put people off coming into the area."

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said the investigation was ongoing.

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.