TWO men remain at large after a lunch time drive-by shooting in Kensington.

Police shut down parts of Derby St while searching for the offenders.

Two men were seen getting into a waiting black hatchback shortly after shots were fired near a playground outside government housing flats.

North West Metro Detective Inspector Stephen Cooper said police were still investigating whether the target had been a person or a building.

“Victoria Police holds community safety very high on the agenda and we want to make sure that the public have confidence to walk around,” he said.

“Any incident like this that’s reported which raises community concern, we’re certainly worried about.”

Local worker Dale Stringer said he heard at least six shots from what he thought sounded like a handgun.

Police at the scene say they'll speak soon on reports of a drive-by shooting in Kensington. @tennewsmelb pic.twitter.com/wN3nIxgXHe — Ted O'Connor (@TedOConnor4) June 8, 2017

“We heard the gunfire,” Mr Stringer said.

“There was the initial shots, and then a gap of a few seconds before we heard more shots.”

The shooting suspects are described as young men of African appearance.

Parts of Derby St are closed as detectives hunt for the gunman.

It comes after thieves of African appearance broke into the garage of a North Melbourne home and threatened two victims with a machete.

All suspects remain on the run.

Police do not believe the two incidents are related and no one was hurt in either incident.

andrea.hamblin@news.com.au

@AndieHamblin