A teenager has been shot at an 18th birthday party in Kenton which was filled with gatecrashers after it was advertised on Facebook.

Scores of uninvited guests attended the celebrations at the Preston Mall Youth & Community Centre in Preston Hill, after hearing about it on the social networking site.

The shooting happened after partygoers fled the venue when a firework was let off.

As they stood outside a second firework was set off causing more panic and the gunman fired indiscriminately into the crowd hitting an 18-year-old man.

The victim is in hospital and expected to make a full recovery.

The incident happened on October 25 but the details have only been released today by police who are appealing for information.

Detective Inspector Glenn Butler, from the Met’s Trident Gang Crime Command, said: “I urgently need people to contact me so I can take this man off our streets before we have another fatality in our community.

“This was an act of wanton recklessness; anyone fleeing from the venue could have been shot and killed.

“If anyone has information I urge them to contact police as soon as possible.”

Witnesses to the incident and anyone with information are asked to contact the Trident team on 020 8358 0647 quoting reference CRIS 1925794/14.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.