GANG WARFARE

An attempted murder inquiry was launched after 19-year-old Michael Chap-man was flung 10ft into the air when a car (pictured above) ploughed into him on the city's Millbrook estate.

The teenager was taken to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries, thought to include a gash to the head and a broken pelvis plus leg and hand injuries. Today his condition was said to be "stable".

Detective Inspector Tom Tobin, head of Shirley CID, said the incident had all the hallmarks of inter-estate rivalry.

"We are not sure at the moment if there was a row or of the exact circumstances that led up to it," he told the Daily Echo.

"It has got the indications of inter-estate rivalry and we will be investigating the motivation behind it."

Police confirmed one of the gangs under scrutiny would be the notorious Millbrook Boyz.

DI Tobin, leading the investigation, added: "This is an appalling crime and it is chilling to think that someone could drive a car deliberately into someone.

"Although his condition is not life threatening who knows what he is going to face in the future"

Mr Chapman, of Cuckmere Lane, had been standing with a group of friends in Wimpson Lane when he was mowed down opposite the park.

Police said he was thrown into the air following the impact with the car just before midnight on Saturday and underwent lengthy surgery yesterday.

The car, a red Vauxhall Cavalier containing several youths, was found burned out just minutes after the incident at the nearby Western Community Hospital in Walnut Grove.

A friend of Michael's said: "I had to jump out the way. It was coming for both of us."

He described Michael, who has lived on the estate all his life, as someone who liked a good laugh and who lived for clubbing at The Opera House, Bournemouth, at weekends.

Last year he raised £150 for muscular dystrophy when he completed a charity bungee jump.

The teenager, who has two brothers and lives with his parents Bev and Ian, is currently unemployed.

Last night residents said they were sick of gang violence on the estate.

One said: "It's not unusual to hear fights out here in the evening and to see stolen and burned-out cars."

One local called an ambulance after seeing a car speed towards Michael Chapman and hearing the impact.

The man, who asked not to be identified, said: "There were about eight or ten people shouting and screaming near the car park.

"Then some of them got in a car and sped off up the road away from them. I thought it was all over. Then I saw the car speed back down the road and I heard the bang.

"There was a crowd outside. They were hysterical - the girls were screaming and the boys were shouting outside, they were quite aggressive. Even the telephone operator from the ambulance service could hear them."

Police today praised local residents for their help.

Detectives were hoping to speak to Mr Chapman this morning.

They believe the car sped off towards the A35 Redbridge Road area in the direction of the hospital following the incident .

"We want to hear from anyone that may have seen a red car, heard screeching tyres or been cut-up by one," said DI Tobin.

"We need as many witnesses as possible so we can start putting the pieces of the jigsaw together."

The registration of the car is D780 NMJ.

Contact Shirley CID on 0845 045 4545 with any information on the incident.

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