An 11-year-old girl is recovering after she was shot at with an airgun and hit on the ear.
Police said the youngster was at a school in School Road, Monkwick, Colchester, when the shooting happened at just before 9pm yesterday.
The girl suffered bruising and swelling to her left ear, caused by the pellet fired by a male youth.
Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester CID, called on parents to be aware of the dangers of airguns and BB-guns.
The weapons, which should not be sold to anyone under 17, have been involved in several incidents reported to the police over the last few months.
He said: "BB-guns and airguns can be very dangerous if you are hit at close range and they seem to be too freely available to young children."
Anyone with information about yesterday's shooting is asked to call Colchester police on 01206 762212
Published Wednesday August 21, 2002
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