The windows of the Peugeot car were shattered by bullets

The man was killed and another was injured after two gunmen pulled up in a van beside them in Hoddesdon and opened fire at 0920 BST on Friday.

Police believe an automatic weapon was used in the attack outside the Physical Limit Health and Fitness Club in Brewery Road.

The injured man, from London, was not seriously hurt and is helping police with their inquiries.

The victim, who lived in Stevenage, will not be named until all his family have had been informed.

It would have been easy for the van to park up in a car park which has a good view of the front and then just drive down the road towards them Hertfordshire's Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Alford

Hertfordshire's Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Alford said the suspects' van was later found burning in the Lampits area of the town.

The two men were then thought to have made off in a silver saloon car.

Mr Alford said it was not clear at this stage whether the victim and his companion were in a blue Peugeot car or about to get into it at the time of the shooting.

Both men who were shot regularly worked out at the gym which opens early each morning.

They would usually train for an hour and a half before leaving and walking into the street outside.

The shooting took place outside a gym

Mr Alford said he was quite sure the gunman must have been watching and waiting for them.

"These two were often seen chatting outside the fitness centre.

"It would have been easy for the van to park up in a car park which has a good view of the front and then just drive down the road towards them."

He said a drugs-related motive was just "one of many theories" police were considering at this stage.

Additional patrols

He said it was "far too early to speculate" on whether is was a contract killing.

There were no descriptions of the suspects because they were believed to have been wearing balaclavas or jumpers pulled over their heads.

Mr Alford urged the public in Hoddesdon not to panic and said the shooting was "a very, very unusual incident" for the area.

He added: "We are very conscious of our community's concerns and additional officers will be on duty tonight and there will be additional high-visibility patrols in the area for the foreseeable future."