Three Brits have been arrested on the Costa Blanca over a suspected gangland shooting outside an Estepona beach club.

The arrests relate to an attack previously reported by the Spanish Eye on July 28, when a 31-year-old Lithuanian man was shot four times in a public car park behind Sonora Beach.

Despite the number of gunshot wounds, the victim survived.

The Policia Nacional detained the three British nationals during an operation in Orihuela Costa last week, but news of the arrests only emerged today.

Homes in the popular La Zenia urbanisation were searched, with investigators allegedly discovering weapons, forged documents and a small quantity of drugs.

Two of the suspects were remanded in custody following their appearances before a judge in Orihuela.

The third was released provisionally while the investigation continues.

Further arrests are also understood to have been made on the Costa del Sol, according to Alicante-based newspaper Informacion.

The suspects are being investigated for offences including attempted murder, membership of a criminal organisation, drug trafficking, document fraud, vehicle theft and illegal possession of weapons.

Police believe the shooting was a settling of scores connected to the drugs trade.

The investigation remains under judicial secrecy.

The attack happened at around 5.30pm in the car park beside Andalucia Beach, close to Estepona’s coastline.

Emergency services received several calls from people who had heard gunshots in the area.

Police officers and paramedics found the Lithuanian victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was treated at the scene before being taken to the Costa del Sol University Hospital in Marbella.

Witnesses said the attackers fled in a dark-coloured vehicle.

The brazen shooting sparked alarm because it happened in broad daylight during the busy summer season, just metres from a popular beach bar.

Sonora Beach later stressed that the attack had taken place in the public car park rather than inside its premises. Staff assisted the injured man until emergency services arrived.

Investigators spent the following weeks reconstructing the gunmen’s escape and attempting to identify everyone involved.

Their enquiries eventually led them more than 500km away to Orihuela Costa, an area of Alicante province with a large British and international population.

Officers sent from the Costa del Sol carried out the arrests with support from police in Alicante.

The investigation remains open and police have not ruled out further arrests.