Father shot after confronting girls

Barry Simpson, 33, chased the teenagers off as he feared they would wake his baby daughter.

Ten minutes later he was shot at point-blank range outside his girlfriend's home in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, the Scottish Sun newspaper reported.

He is now said to be stable in Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, after having emergency surgery for stomach wounds.

Mr Simpson and his girlfriend, Sharon Bryson, 31, became concerned for seven-week-old baby Emma after a disturbance late on Monday night

After going outside and chasing the girls away, the teenagers threatened Mr Simpson. On hearing a second noise outside the flat 10 minutes later, he again went out.

He was confronted by a man carrying what looked like a knife - but as he turned to flee he was shot.

Mr Simpson's brother Gavin, 39, told the newspaper: "He'd been shot on the left side of the abdomen. I couldn't believe it - my brother wouldn't harm a fly and lives for his family and playing golf."

Strathclyde Police confirmed a 33-year-old man had received gunshot wounds following a disturbance in Blantyre on Monday. Detectives are treating the case as attempted murder.

The suspect is described as white, about 5ft 9in tall, slim with black, long hair and a beard. He was wearing a white tracksuit.