FEARS of an escalating gangland turf war were growing today after a man was shot yards from a primary school.

The target of the “hit” was named locally as Ross Sherlock, a former close associate of slain gangster Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll.

Insiders fear the shooting in Bishopbriggs was part of a feud, which could lead to number of “tit-for-tat attacks”.

Police said the shooting was being treated as attempted murder as they issued a renewed appeal for witnesses.

They revealed the 33-year-old man was known to police and had been "specifically targeted" by his attacker.

The victim was shot close to St Helen's Primary School and Bishopbriggs Academy.

He had been in the area to collect his daughter from the primary school but officers said no-one from either school was involved in the incident.

The victim was last night still in hospital, a force statement said.

Detective Superintendent Stevie Grant said: “One of our lines of enquiry remains focused on a burnt-out grey Volkswagen Golf with the registration plate FR12 PYB which was recovered in the area of Wood Lane, only a short distance from where the incident occurred.

“This vehicle was reported stolen back in March this year."

The Evening Times understands the victim was shot in the arm and his injuries are not life-threatening.

Eyewitnesses claimed an umbrella, which was lying at the scene of the shooting, had a “bullet hole” in it.

Police said the victim was shot by a man wearing a high visibility jacket and carrying a handgun.

He made off towards Ronaldsay Drive.

The victim turned up at hospital hours later to receive treatment.

Sherlock was an underworld and a former close associate of slain gangster Kevin ‘Gerbil’ Carroll.

Carroll was gunned down in an Asda car park in 2010, less than a mile from yesterday’s incident.

The suspect is said to be in his mid 40s, around 5 ft 10in tall and was wearing a high visibility jacket with the hood pulled up.

He was carrying a silver handgun.