A man is in hospital under armed police guard for his own protection, after being shot by professional hit men at a Thornaby home.

Even the location of the hospital is being kept a secret by police for fear that the masked gunmen who blasted the 21-year-old in the left thigh will strike again.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Robson said: "He has been shot, police are concerned that they may try again.''Surgeons have operated on the injured man, who is a serving soldier, and his condition is reported to be "stable.''

Though he was blasted in the leg by what may prove to have been a shotgun, his condition is not life threatening.

Two men wearing balaclavas burst in on their victim at his girlfriend's house in Princes Square, Thornaby, Teesside, at the weekend.

Police are not ruling out a drugs motive behind the attack.Acting Det Insp Robson said: "I am keeping an open mind. It is not an incident we get on a regular basis and I would say there is nothing for the people of Thornaby to worry about; but to be assured that they were going with the express intention of doing what they did.''

Police are looking into the background of the victim who "has no criminal record as such,'' said Mr Robson.

House to house inquiries are being carried in what is a residential area on the edge of Thornaby and by tomorrow morning there will be a 20-strong police team involved in the hunt.

Both the injured man and his terrified girlfriend have told police the two men escaped in a dark coloured four by four vehicle.

The kind of gun used in the "well planned'' attack had not been established last night. The shooting occurred at about 9.30pm on Saturday, but the area was still cordoned off 24 hours later.

Cleveland Police are appealing for anyone with information about the shooting or sightings of the men before they masked up, or the vehicle, to come forward. They are asked to ring acting Det Insp Robson on (01642) 302226.