A man from Thamesmead accused of fatally shooting a West End clubber on Boxing Day 2013 was today cleared of murder.

Thamesmead resident Danny Walker, 33, of Haldane Road, and Gavin Allen, 32, of no fixed address, were accused of blasting Hassan Mohammed Omer Isman six times using firearms smuggled into the Avalon venue, Shaftesbury Avenue.

The men, who both denied murder, were cleared by a jury following a trial at the Old Bailey which lasted just over three weeks.

Allen and Walker were accused of fleeing across the darkened dance floor with their guns as partygoers cowered in terror and rushed for the stairs.

The prosecution said Mr Isman, who had been seen waving money around earlier that night, managed to crawl down the stairs to get help but, despite being rushed to hospital, bled to death.

A private Christmas party was being held in the club at the time of the shooting.

Mr Isman, from Poplar, was given first aid at the scene but was pronounced dead later in hospital.