Fighting for life, a pillar of the community who was shot at his office desk

A solicitor who is fighting for his life after he was blasted in the head by a gunman in Devizes, Wiltshire, has been described as a "lovely" family man who would do anything for anybody.Solicitor James Ward, who is fighting for his life after being shot in the head at his office in Wiltshire (Picture: …

Father-of-three James Ward, 59, was shot as he sat his desk in the offices of Morris, Goddard and Ward, on Monday afternoon.

Tragic Mr Ward remains in a critical condition in hospital with his partner, believed to be consultant solicitor Nicola Morris - who also works at his firm - at his bedside.

A 62-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder around 35 minutes after the shooting.

A neighbour at Mr Ward's large red-brick farm house in Westbury, Wiltshire, who did not want to be named, said the solicitor would do anything for anybody.

He said: "He is just such a lovely man. The whole family is lovely. It is such a shock this has happened - he wouldn't hurt a fly.

"It's the type of thing you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy - I can't think of why anybody would have done this.

"We have all been praying for him at the local village church and we hope that he gets better - you have to have faith.

"He's just such a nice man."

Morris Goddard and Ward was set up in 1988, specialising in matrimonial and family law, personal injury, general legal claims and residential conveyancing.

James Ward is listed as the principal solicitor at the practice. His partner Nicola Morris is listed as consultant solicitor.

The neighbour said Mr Ward had three children - all of whom had grown up and left school.

Armed police were called to the offices in the centre of Devizes, at 3pm on Monday following reports of a firearms incident.

Locals described hearing a loud bang - like a car backfiring. Cops found Mr Ward still alive but suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

He was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, where his condition is described as life-threatening.

A male suspect fled the scene in a car but was arrested around 35 minutes later by armed police in the nearby village of Rowde.

Another neighbour outside Mr Ward's home, who also did not want to be named, said: "It's such a shock, you don't really expect it.

"He is such a lovely man and I know his wife really well. He would always get involved in village activities and was always very friendly.

"It is such a shame."

Wiltshire Police confirmed Mr Ward was still in a critical condition at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol - revealing he had been hit by a single shotgun blast.

Police confirm a 62-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

DCI Ian Saunders, from Wiltshire Police, said: "My team have continued working overnight and officers will be carrying out further checks of CCTV, house to house enquiries and forensic examination of the scene."

"I would like to appeal for anyone who was in the area of St John's Street, Devizes around 3pm yesterday afternoon to make contact with police as they may have important information to assist the investigation."