ARMED police remained on standby at Basildon Hospital where shot city worker Robin Clark continues to be treated.

Mr Clark, 44, who owns a £2million mock-Tudor mansion in Hereward Mount, Stock, near Billericay, was shot in the thigh as he stepped out of his car to go to work.

It happened outside Shenfield station in Mount Avenue car park on Friday at about 5.50am.  

A balaclava wearing thug fled the scene in a nearby parked car.

Mr Clark, works as a euro derivatives worker at RP Martin, a brokerage firm in the City, was taken to the hospital with injuries described as "non life threatening, but serious".

British Transport Police are investigating his lifestyle to establish a motive.

Friends described him as a party-loving man who had mixed with the rich and famous, including Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton.

One told a national newspaper: "He works hard and plays hard.

Referring to the new Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the friend added: "Robin is like the Wolf of Shenfield.

"He is a high octane City boy who gives it large in whatever he does."

BTP officers said the victim was a banker heading into the city for work and they are treating the incident as "very serious".

Det Supt Gary Richardson said: “At this stage we believe the victim of this assault was deliberately targeted.

"We do not believe this incident was gang-related and I would like to reassure the public that there is no reason for any undue concern.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, including the motive behind the attack.”

Mr Clark's Ford S-Max was carted away from the scene shortly after midday.

Trains running through the station were disrupted as a number of services were cancelled while investigations were conducted by police.

Services started resuming back to normal at about 7am, but many commuters were left delayed on their route into work.

One London-bound passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I was trying to get the 6.15am fast train to Liverpool Street but ended up having to take a slower service stopping at all stations.

"On the platforms all the services showed up as cancelled and the station announcer was saying no trains were stopping in Shenfield.

"When I asked a member of staff what was going on, I was shocked to be told there had apparently been a shooting in the car park and the police investigation was causing the holds ups."

Anyone with any information which they believe could assist the investigation is asked to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident reference 48 of 24/01/14.

Did you see what happened? Or are you friends with Robin? Call our newsdesk 01375 411524.