A young man was fighting for life in hospital today after being shot multiple times in north west London.

The victim, believed to be in his 20s, was found with bullet wounds in Lawrence Avenue, Stonebridge, shortly after 8.30pm yesterday.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Another man in his 20s was also critically injured after being stabbed just over a mile away about two hours later, police said.

The road where the shooting happened was sealed off last night as forensic officers examined a silver car that appeared to be peppered with bullet holes.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said the victim had been shot with a “machine gun” as he arrived at his family home to break fast for Ramadan.

She told the Standard: “Apparently a car pulled up alongside him while he was sitting in his car and he was shot eight times.

“We think it was a machine gun as it happened quickly. Someone saw him holding his neck.

“He’s a good lad, I just don’t understand why this has happened. He’s so polite and he’s not a horrible guy. It was a bit of a shock when I was told who it was.”

George Nayinda, 50, spoke of his fear after hearing a hail of gunfire ring out in the quiet residential street.

He told the Standard: “I heard it from my bedroom and came downstairs to check on my kids and make sure no bullets had come through the windows.

“I then pulled the curtains back and I saw the police and someone said they [the victim] had been shot in the neck.

“I’ve been telling my wife it’s not safe to bring kids up here. Guns are rampant. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. My son was really scared – he was crying.”

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at approximately 8.34pm to reports of a man with gunshot injuries on Lawrence Avenue, Brent.

“Officers attended. A man, believed to be aged in his 20’s, has been taken to a central London hospital with injuries that are believed to be life-threatening.

“A crime scene is in place and no arrests have been made at this stage.”

:: Two men were fighting for their lives in hospital last night after separate attacks in south London.

A man, 23, was found with stab injuries in Creek Road, Greenwich, at about 8.10pm yesterday.

Another man was found with head injuries in Albert Square, Stockwell, after police received reports of a fight just after 5.50pm.

No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.