Surgeons were today battling to save the leg of a man after he was singled out by an armed gang and shot while enjoying a bonfire night party.

The attackers forced horrified revellers, including young children, to flee after blasting the 24-year-old in the leg.

The masked men also smashed up a parked car and indiscriminately threatened the terrified party-goers.

Surgeons said the victim, who is now under armed guard, nearly died through blood loss from his wounds,

A group of between 50 and 100 young people were enjoying the community event on wasteland at Larwood Avenue, Ravenscliffe, Bradford, when the incident occurred at 10.30pm yesterday.

At least four men, all wearing balaclavas, arrived in one or possibly two cars. One carried a shotgun while the others wielded machetes and baseball bats.

Detective Inspector Chris Binns, who is heading the investigation, said they first went to a Mitsubishi Shogun parked nearby and smashed all of its windows. He said: "They then strode into the crowd and began pointing the gun at various people and threatening them."

At one point, the firearm was shoved into the face of a baby being carried by a man.

"We believe the gun was then discharged. It was fired into the air, at a tree or possibly a large metal container," said Det Insp Binns.

Carl, a 25-year-old DJ who was playing in the tent next to the bonfire when the incident happened, spoke of the scenes of chaos and fear.

"A man came into the tent wielding the gun and walked around waving it at people. There were loads of kids as young as five. They were running around screaming. The gunman said he was looking for someone. I immediately stopped the music and decided to pack up, then the man disappeared out of the tent.

"About ten minutes after that there was a bang outside. At first I thought it was just a firework but then I heard someone screaming and people shouting 'he's been shot'. Before that we'd been having a lovely night. The kids had really enjoyed it. It had brought the community together.''

Det Insp Binns said said the man had been shot in the thigh above the knee. He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where surgeons last night were battling to save his leg.

Det Insp Binns, who said the motive for the attack was still unclear, added: "This was a horrific experience for all of these people who were out enjoying fireworks night. We will be speaking to the victim today to get his account of events. We need to hear from anyone who was at the bonfire who saw anything at all."

Today, discarded beer bottles and broken glass scattered the area and the remains of the bonfire was still smouldering.

One 16-year-old eyewitness said the car had driven down Ravenscliffe Avenue before turning into Winslow Road.

He said: "They whipped the handbreak on, span around and then got out. There were four to six of them and they were wearing black balaclavas. Some of them had baseball bats and one had a shotgun.

"They started speaking to someone and the next minute I heard a shot and escaped down a snicket near the bonfire.''

Anyone with information should ring (01274) 376059 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.