A woman is in hospital after being shot in Thornton Heath this afternoon.

The victim, understood to be aged about 60, walked home following the attack in Thornton Road just after 2pm.

Her family called paramedics to her house in Mayfield Road.

She was taken to Croydon University Hospital with leg injuries, which police said were not life-threatening.

It is unclear what kind of weapon was fired at the woman.

Her son-in-law, Bryn Davies, 38, told the Croydon Guardian she did not see her attacker.

He said: "She was walking down the road and she heard a bang and felt a stab in her leg and looked down to see it bleeding.

"They are not sure whether it was an air gun or a proper firearm or what at the moment, but she has got a central wound and multiple little wounds around it.

"The ambulance crew looked at it and said it's not life-threatening and it's not life-changing. But it's all a bit of a shock to her.

"It is absolutely disgusting that someone would do that."

Mr Davies, of Coulsdon, said his mother-in-law had planned to get a taxi to the hospital before he urged his wife to call 999.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the force was called by the London Ambulance Service to "a report of a firearm discharge at Mayfield Road".

She added: "Officers attended and found a woman injured at the location. It is unknown at this time how her injury was caused."

Croydon detectives are investigating the suspected shooting, which happened near the junction with Silverleigh Road.

No arrests have been made.

Earlier this month, a man was injured in a shooting at a newsagent in Beulah Road, Thornton Heat.

Do you know more about this story? Call the newsdesk on 0208 722 6351 or email chris.baynes@london.newsquest.co.uk