A MAN suffered a broken leg when he was shot with a crossbow outside a pub on Saturday.

He was the innocent victim of a revenge attack by two men who been thrown out of the Spanish Arches pub on Belmont Circle, Belmont, about three hours earlier.

The 35-year-old , who is from Edgware, was treated at Northwick Park Hospital and discharged on Tuesday.

DC Rob Johnstone of Harrow CID said: "The suspects had been drinking in the pub at about 9.30pm on Friday. The manager recognised one of them as having been barred on New Year's Eve and asked both of them to leave. They said that they would return and that the doorman would need to go to hospital.

"At 12.45am they returned, armed with a crossbow, and fired a metal bolt at the victim, a passer-by."

Police want to speak to anyone who was in the pub when the suspects were there and any witnesses who were in or around the area when the assault happened. It is believed the men ran off towards Wemborough Avenue, one still carrying the crossbow. Both were Irish, one 5ft6 and bald, or with very short hair, and wearing a black leather jacket, the other 5ft7 with a spider tattooed across his neck and a scar on his nose. He was wearing a white jacket and a gold chain.

Witnesses are asked to call DC Johnstone on 020 8733 3436.

May 1, 2003 10:30