FORTY bloodstained footprints mark the beginning of a four-day journey to hell and back for a Lowton kidnap victim.

But it came to an end on Tuesday morning when, after a news black-out, police revealed that the man - thought to be 37 years old James Kent - was found dumped in a Salford street.

He is now under police guard in a local hospital after being blasted in his right leg and left hip. He lost large quantities of blood before he was shoved into a waiting van.

His nightmare ordeal began after four masked thugs forced their way into the house it is thought he shares with his girlfriend on Lane Head Avenue, Lowton, at 5.48am on Saturday.

After being shot he was pulled from the house before being pushed into a white Suzuki van, later found burnt out. Spent gun cartridges were found on the floor of the living room at his house.

For three days Mr Kent was held hostage at an unknown address by his attackers who contacted a family member demanding a ransom be paid.

Detectives, hunting for the vicious gang of kidnappers, have refused to say if any cash was handed over.

He was only released at 9.30am on Tuesday after being dumped in Northallerton Road, Kersal, Salford.

His abduction is being linked to two other shootings in the Salford area during the weekend and the abduction of a second man.

Police chiefs confirmed that all three men injured in the three days of violence were known to them.

But detectives refused to confirm that the Lowton attack was part of a bitter and violent dispute between two criminal gangs operating in Salford and surrounding towns.

Det Supt Tony Simister, who is leading the hunt for the kidnappers, said: "To be quite frank the violence which has been portayed by these individuals gives me serious concerns.

"I can assure members of the public that the police will be doing their utmost to catch those responsible and we will not be leaving those people living in that locality unprotected. "No arrests have been made at this moment in time and we would appeal for help from any members of the public in relation to vehicles used in these incidents and any general information as to those responsible or involved in any way."

The incident in Lowton began a chain of shootings which detectives believe are all linked.

Shortly after midnight on Sunday a 35-year-old man was abducted from his home in Stafford Road, Ellesmere Park, Salford, while his partner and three-year-old son were upstairs. Shots were fired and blood was found at the scene.

Following an anonymous call the second victim was found in the back of a red transit van which had been dumped outside the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, at 5.30pm on Monday.

He had suffered a gun shot wound to a leg and is also under police guard in hospital where he is being treated.

And on Monday lunchtime a 41-year-old man was shot after his car containing his wife and two children was chased along Duchy Street, Salford by a red Rover. He is also under armed guard in hospital being treated for a gun shot wound to the leg.

Detectives called a press conference on Tuesday afternoon after Mr Kent had finally been set free. It followed a news black-out in which reports on the kidnaps and shootings were held back to help police investigations.

Det Supt Simister added: "Obviously he's the person kept captive for the longest time and so he was extremely shook up but as far as his general medical health is currently he's fine."

Neighbours of Mr Kent said the first they knew anything was wrong was when they saw police in the street at 7am on Sunday morning.

Mr Kent and his partner had lived in their rented, detached home for around a year and at Christmas sent cards to neighbours.

But otherwise they are said to have kept themselves to themselves, although they were often heard rowing with each other. They have two boys around high school age.

"We heard no shot or any commotion, squealing tyres or anything like that," said one baffled neighbour.

"This is totally out of character in Lane Head Avenue."

He then pointed to the still visible bloodstained footprints leading from the cordoned-off home almost to its junction with Garton Drive, off Slag Lane.

"It's a bit macabre having to walk over them," he admitted glancing at the 40-odd bloodstains individually numbered by police in yellow chalk.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.