A MAN was shot as he left a dance in Huddersfield.

Police have stressed today they believe the attack outside the Deighton Centre in Deighton was targeted specifically at the victim and was not a random shooting.

The 21-year-old man from Leeds had been to the function at the centre off Deighton Road on Saturday night. The event had been organised by a Leeds-based promoter.

Detectives say he left by a back door at 3am yesterday and was immediately confronted by a masked gunman.

The terrified victim turned to flee, but was shot in the buttock.

He managed to get back into the centre where the alarm was raised.

He was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where his condition was identified as not life-threatening.

Police believe several vital witnesses may have seen what happened and have urged them to come forward.

Det Insp Steve Hepplestone, of Huddersfield CID, said: "It would appear this was a focused attack on an individual."

He said a small red Renault car was parked near the scene of the shooting with four young white men smoking inside.

Det Insp Hepplestone said: "They may well have seen what happened and I would ask them to come forward."

A taxi was also dropping a fare off at the time and police would like to speak to the driver.

The biggest link to the shooting may be a small silver hatchback car seen in Wiggan Lane, Sheepridge.

The car stopped by a snicket leading to the back of the Deighton Centre.

Six men got out of the car and disappeared up the snicket.

They were seen a short time later leaving in the car at speed towards Deighton Road.

Five of the men wore dark hooded tops. The driver is African-Caribbean, aged 19 or 20 and thin. He wore a dark tracksuit and a baseball cap.

The gunman is a mixed race African Carribean man about 5ft 9ins tall. He wore a balaclava and dark clothes.

He has distinctive tramlines cut into both eyebrows.

Anyone who attended the event at the Deighton Centre or has any information should contact Huddersfield CID on 01484 436582 or 01484 436659.

Alternatively they can phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.