A ten-year-old boy has been shot in the throat with an air gun while football training in a Vange park.
Grant Bowers was knocked to the ground by the blow - believed to be fired by a sniper hiding in trees at Swan Mead park in Vange.
David Orphan, Grant's football coach, was also shot at as he leapt over a 10 foot fence in pursuit of the three culprits. They eluded him at the Swan Mead shops.
Grant's mum, Sharon Bowers, of Curling Tye, Pitsea, has been comforting her son and spoke of her relief that Grant wasn't seriously hurt.
A police spokesman has said they are treating this incident very seriously and any witnesses should phone Basildon crimedesk on 01268 532212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
For more on this story see today's Evening Echo
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