A man is in a life-threatening condition after a shooting at a solicitors’ office in Wiltshire.

The victim suffered serious head injuries after a single shot was fired at Morris, Goddard and Ward in Devizes on Monday afternoon, a police statement said. He was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital and his family was last night with him at the hospital.

A man entered the office with a gun before opening fire and then driving away from the scene. A 62-year-old man from the local area was last night in custody at Melksham Police Station.

In a statement, Wiltshire Police said: ‘Incidents such as this are extremely rare in Wiltshire, the community are understandably shocked by today’s events and we appreciate their cooperation.’

Claire Perry, MP for Devizes, tweeted: ‘All thoughts and prayers with the victim of the tragic shooting today in Devizes, and his family. What an awful, shocking thing to happen.’

The firm was set up in 1988 and has four solicitors specialising in family law, personal injury, general legal claims and residential conveyancing.