POLICE have dropped their investigation into a shooting in a village near York, in which a man suffered stomach and arm wounds.

Three men who were arrested in Doncaster following the incident in Murton have been released without further action, said North Yorkshire Police.

A force spokesman said: “There was not enough evidence to pursue a prosecution. The case has been closed pending any further information coming to light.”

The Press reported in March that armed police, along with unarmed officers, were called out after the shooting outside a property in Murton Lane in February.

Police said then that the victim, who was in his 30s and local to the area, suffered pellet wounds to his stomach and arm and was taken to hospital for treatment.

They said his injuries were not life-threatening and he had subsquently been released from hospital.

The three men, aged 26, 28 and 29, and of no fixed address, were arrested in Doncaster in March. But they were later released on conditional bail as North Yorkshire officers led an extensive investigation into the incident, which also involved neighbouring forces.

A police chief subsequently sought to reassure local residents they were not put at risk at any time, and also responded to a complaint by one villager that the crime was not initially publicised by North Yorkshire Police.

The resident contacted The Press to ask why police did not issue a press release or post information on its website immediately afterwards, as the shooting was of great concern in the local community and people believed they had a right to know what was going on.

Supt Lisa Winward, York Safer Neighbourhood Commander, said: “We are satisfied that this was an isolated incident which did not pose a threat to the wider community.”