A POST mortem examination has confirmed that a man found dying in Leyton died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The 37-year-old, who is yet to be formally identified by next of kin, was discovered in playing fields in Seymour Road, off Lea Bridge Road, at about 12.50am on Sunday.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended, but the man died at the scene.

Residents living nearby were shocked to discover someone had been shot in the fields, which is a popular recreation ground with families with young children using the play park and fields.

Mum-of-one, Dawn Robinson, 39, of Seymour Road, said: “It is shocking. A police officer told me what had happened. Anything like this happening makes you think.”

Dennis Mangal, 54, of Clementina Road, Leyton, said: “I was in at the time but didn't hear anything. It is normally a quiet place so I'm surprised.

"We do have problems with joy riding there, but it is generally a family place.”

Some residents were too afraid of repercussions to be named, but complained of groups hanging around the park in the evenings.

A 37-year-old mum of two said: “There's always groups of young boys hanging around in the evenings. I don't go there any more because of that. I feel intimidated.”

Katy Andrews of the New Lammas Lands Defence Committee, which campaigned to preserve the fields for the public as part of the Lammas Lands, said the park's problems had largely been resolved.

She said: “It is a dreadful thing to have taken place. We've had problems with fly-tipping and joy riding, but things were looking up so it is an unfortunate and very unpleasant thing for people in the area.

“But people haven't been put off using the park and the police did a good job of getting the park back to as normal as possible.”

No arrests have been made in relation to the shooting.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8733 4704 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter