Man is shot outside Thread nightclub, in Yeoman Street, Leicester

A nightclub has been ordered to close after a man was blasted in the leg with a shotgun.

The man, understood to be either a doorman or his friend, was attacked outside Thread, in Yeoman Street, Leicester city centre, early yesterday.

He was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary for treatment to a wound in his thigh and was released later in the day.

Police were called to the scene at 3.45am after reports of a single shot being fired.

A stretch of Yeoman Street between Humberstone Gate East and Halford Street was closed off until the afternoon as officers examined the scene.

No firearm has been recovered and no arrests made.

Leicester City Council ordered the club to remain closed until police were satisfied there was no risk to the public.

Detectives are reviewing CCTV from the venue. It is understood to show a number of men, whose faces were covered by hoods, standing outside the club prior to the shooting.

It was unclear yesterday whether the men had been thrown out or barred entry.

The venue, formerly Houston's, was hosting a hip hop, R'n'B and house event called the Boxing Day Banger. It had started at 11pm and was scheduled to go on until 5am.

Police said the club was busy at the time of the shooting and have urged people to contact them if they know anything about the attackers.

Detective Inspector Simon Preston, of the serious crime unit, said: "I have a lot of detectives investigating this incident in order to find out exactly what happened.

"We have CCTV from the venue and we are viewing that.

"We think the club was full at the time. A good few hundred people were there and it is important they contact us if they have any information about what has happened here."

Officers and city council licensing officials served the closure notice on the venue yesterday morning. Management were said to have accepted the move without argument.

It was unclear yesterday what the closure will mean for the club's plans for this weekend or New Year's Eve.

Bobby Smiljanic, licensing manager at the city council, said the order was open-ended.

She said: "There is nothing to suggest that the venue is at fault in any way.

"But the police have not yet arrested any suspects and we are not sure whether there will be any repercussions to this incident.

"We have told the venue's management they have to remain closed until the police are satisfied it is safe for them to open again.

"Obviously, this will affect their business but it has been done in the interests of preserving public safety."

The owner of a nearby business, who asked not to be named, said: "I've not heard of a shooting in Leicester in a long time. It's not something you associate with us.

"I'll bet it was over something really trivial, like someone being told they can't come in.

"If you are prepared to shoot someone, you don't know whether you are going to kill them or not."

The Mercury tried to contact the management at Thread but was unable to get in touch.

Anyone with information should contact Leicestershire Police by calling 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.