Air weapon attack on girls

The prime minister promised tough action on airguns

A sniper has shot at two teenage girls in Cumbria with an air rifle, leaving one with injuries to her back.

The first shooting took place in a small park in Carlisle city centre where a 13-year-old girl was sitting on a bench.

She heard a loud crack and felt a sharp pain in her back. A pellet went through her jacket and left her with bruising.

The second shooting involved a 16-year-old girl who was walking along a nearby road when a pellet hit a milk carton she was carrying, causing it to explode.

'Extremely dangerous'

She was not hurt but left extremely shocked.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: "Both girls appear to have been shot at deliberately and the consequences could have been much worse.

"Air weapons are not toys. They are extremely dangerous and can cause severe injuries and even, occasionally, fatalities.

"These girls have been lucky. But we need to hear from anyone who has information about these incidents."

Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised tough action on the ownership of air weapons.

His actions follow a series of air weapon tragedies, including the death of a teenager on Teesside and another in which a girl from Gateshead lost an eye.