A former gangland murder accused has flown out to Spain after he was shot outside a primary school.

Ross Monaghan, 35, was hit in shoulder when a gunman pushing a pram opened fire at the gates of St George's Primary School in Penilee, Glasgow, on Monday morning.

The shooter was seen wearing a woollen bobble hat, blue puffer jacket and pushing a children's buggy shortly after 9am after Monaghan dropped his child off at the school.

The hitman was spotted outside the school pushing the same pram three days before the attack, which is being treated as a targeted attempted murder.

Police are continuing the major probe into the attempted murder and forensic officers this week pulled one of the stray bullets from a tree directly outside the school after recovering shells from the street on Monday.

Monaghan was cleared at the High Court in Glasgow in May 2012 of the murder of Kevin "Gerbil" Carroll in an Asda car park in Robroyston.

He left Glasgow for Malaga in the Costa del Sol on Thursday night and pictures in a national newspaper show him pushing a trolley full of suitcases through the airport.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said they would not comment on the development.

Armed police attended the school after the shots were fired just after parents had dropped off their children.

The manhunt continues for the shooter, who was pushing a four-wheel, collapsible buggy before he opened fire and made off on Hollybush Road towards Langstile Road.

Police said it is believed he was been spotted at the school last Friday before the murder bid on Monday.

Last Friday marked seven years since the murder of Mr Carroll on January 13, 2010.

Officers leading the investigation said they are keeping an "open mind" regarding the connection between the attempted murder of Monaghan and the previous case.

They have appealed for any parents who may have seen the man to come forward. It also emerged Monaghan was wearing a bulletproof vest when he was shot.

Detective chief inspector John Kennedy said: "There's no doubt that this incident has shocked local people and the wider community but people can be assured that every effort is being made to trace whoever is responsible for this crime.

"Our enquiries so far have shown that the suspect is believed to have been in the area, outside the school, on Friday, January 13, with the buggy so I'm appealing to parents, local residents or anyone who was in the area that day and who may have seen something to contact us.

"It's possible the suspect made off in a vehicle and I'm asking people in the surrounding areas to think back and consider if they noticed anything unusual or suspicious."

He added: "Did you see the man with the buggy, did you see him get into a vehicle? Any small detail could prove significant to our enquiries so please do pass it on.

"Local people can expect to see additional officers in the area. If you have any information or concerns, please approach them and speak to them."

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives who will be based at Pollok Police Station via 101.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.