A nightclub bouncer was today under armed guard after he was blasted in the back with a shotgun outside his Bradford home.

The 31-year-old, who police have not named, was shot in front of his terrified teenage girlfriend as they walked up the pathway to his home in Aberford Road, off Whetley Lane, Girlington, at 3.30am.

Detectives said the gunman waited in the garden of a neighbouring house before he stepped out behind his victim and fired into his back.

Detective Inspector Sheridan Moore, of Bradford North CID, said the victim's 19-year-old girlfriend was walking a couple of paces behind him and watched in horror as the bouncer fell to the floor.

The gunman turned to face her but did not fire his weapon again and ran off across some back gardens towards Whetley Lane.

Despite his injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening, the victim managed to call for an ambulance on his mobile phone.

Specialist officers were today combing the area for evidence while uniformed police carried out house-to-house inquiries in the quiet suburban street.

Det Insp Moore said: "The victim got out of his car in Aberford Road and was walking down the pathway when he was shot at very close range.

"Fortunately he was wearing a leather jacket which has absorbed some of the blast.

"We believe this was a targeted attack - it was not a random shooting. We are investigating the possibility that the attack was linked with his employment activities."

The victim, who works at the Priory nightclub in Lidget Green, was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary with gunshot wounds to his back.

His girlfriend, who lives in the Lidget Green area, was treated for shock but was otherwise unhurt.

Police cordoned off the road from its junction with Whetley Lane.

Officers patrolled the area as speculation about what had happened intensified among residents of the quiet street.

Patricia Petty, 43, who lives opposite the scene of the shooting, said she woke in the early hours to a loud bang.

She said: "I couldn't see anything but I wasn't going to go out and get involved. The bang sounded like a car, but it could have been a shot.

"After that it all went very quiet and then about 4.20am I woke again and there were lots of police lights and sirens.

"This incident has really frightened me and I don't know if I will be able to stay around here now."

Joanne Smith, 25, who is a close friend of the victim, said her thoughts were with the man and his family.

"He is just a quiet lad, who lives with his nan and does his own thing," she said. "His nan really depends on him so I am really worried about both of them and just hope he is OK.

"I am just disgusted. I have an 11-year-old son and it's not the kind of thing I'd expect round here. It has got to stop because it is out of order.

"This is a quiet area really, not like many other places round here. Most of the people are elderly or Asian, so we don't get much trouble."

Anyone with any information should call Bradford North CID on (01274) 376085 or (01274) 376059.