A SELF-confessed criminal has been warned to "get out of town" by police amid fears for his safety after he was shot in the leg.

Lee Snape revealed that officers had already given him two Osman warnings - written documents expressing their fears for his life and recommending measures to protect him - before the latest incident.

They have now issued a third, urging him to move to a secret address and not meet with family or friends.

The 35-year-old believes the shooting was a gangland "warning" and said he was shot at twice as he arrived at his home in Lindisfarne Avenue, Blackburn, on Monday night.

One of the bullets' hit him in the back of his thigh and went right through his left leg.

Police chiefs said medical experts believe the injury was caused by an air rifle.

However the father-of-one, who has a string of convictions for violence and drugs offences, believes he was shot by a gun and is now in fear of his life.

"I have now had three police warnings in 12 months and I have been shot.

"I have spent the last 12 months looking over my shoulder wondering what might happen and now I know," he said. "Its alright saying move away and start again but I have family in Blackburn and these people might use them to get at me. I can't let that happen. I am just living in fear of what might happen next."

"I was shot with a bullet and another one missed me. I don't know where that was aimed at."

Police conducted a fingertip search of the area and have taken Mr Snape's car and mobile phone as part of their investigations, even though he did not report the shooting.

It is believed that the shooting could be a warning to one of Mr Snape's associates who is due to give evidence in a court case.

Mr Snape said he believed his connections were behind the shooting but refused to elaborate further.

He said: "I was about to put the key in the front door when I heard two loud bangs and felt a burning pain in my leg," said Mr Snape. "Despite the police warnings I didn't expect to get shot on my front doorstep in broad daylight. Its not the kind of thing that happens in Blackburn.

"As soon as it happened I got back in my car and drove off," he said. "I was frightened to death but I didn't go to the police because that would have made it worse."

Liz Parker, of Forbes Solicitors, who represents Mr Snape, said: "The Osman warnings are not just pieces of paper, they are expressions of serious concerns for my client's life."

Supt Mick Gradwell said: "On Tuesday we went to see Mr Snape as a result of having received information from a third party that he had been shot.

"The hospital did not report it to us as medical experts indicated that the injury was from a low powered weapon similar to an air weapon.

"Osman warnings are a way of being up front saying you are at risk and offering advice about what options they have."

He asked for anyone with information about the incident to contact Blackburn Police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.