The man, aged in his late 30s, was shot once about 2am as he waited in his car in McArthur Street, Guildford, a police spokesman said.

The gunman fled shortly afterwards, he said.

Nearby residents who heard the incident called police and the ambulance service, who took the victim to Westmead Hospital where he was in a stable condition.

Police had no description of the gunman, who they believe was outside the car at the time of the shooting.

They could not say whether the shooting was random or if the victim knew the gunman.

It was also not clear whether the victim was shot through the car, or whether a door was open, the spokesman said.

"Investigators hope to speak to the injured man today ... until they do [details are] brief."