A man is being treated in hospital with serious injuries after he was shot through his bedroom door by armed intruders as he fled to safety.
The victim, a man in his 40s, has a gunshot wound to his leg following the raid on his home, in Sible Hedingham, Essex, at around 4.40am on Saturday.
The suspects, two men, fled the scene and remain on the run.
Detective Sergeant Mark Cadd, said: "Two men forced entry to the house in the early of hours of the morning and threatened the householder, a man in his 40s.
"He locked himself in a bedroom and it is believed a gun was then fired through the door injuring him.
"The two men have then fled from the property and at this time it is not believed that anything has been taken.
"This was an extremely distressing incident for the victim and he has suffered life-changing injuries which have left him in great pain."
The suspects are both white, aged in their 20s, of slim build and wearing dark clothing. One of them is described as being bald.
Essex Police are carrying out house-to-house inquiries.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives.