Boys held after school shooting

Head teacher Jenny Dodd said the children suffered minor injuries

Seventeen primary school children have been shot with plastic pellets at a school in Staffordshire.

Police said 15 boys and two girls were hurt when a BB gun was fired at them in the playground at Etching Hill Primary School in Rugeley.

Two 12-year-old boys were later held on suspicion of assault. Three boys from a different school were thought to have fired on the pupils from nearby bushes.

The youngsters suffered bruising but did not need hospital treatment.

The injured children are aged between seven and 11.

'Parents relieved'

Head teacher Jenny Dodd said: "We're just hugely relieved that nobody had any serious injuries.

"As soon as we were alerted we contacted the police and we're doing all that we can to help them with their inquiries.

"They were minor injuries, basically bruising.

"To begin with I don't think any of the children realised what was happening because I think they were so insignificant, being tiny pellets and mostly plastic.

The children were fired at during their lunch break

"Parents were relieved that we called them and that their children hadn't been severely injured."

Staffordshire Police said they were looking for other boys in connection with the incident.

Ch Insp Juliet Prince said: "It is very fortunate that no-one was more seriously hurt.

"We are working closely with pupils and staff to build up a picture of what happened, and are treating the incident very seriously.

"It serves as yet another warning about the dangers of children having access to BB guns and air weapons."

Anyone with information should contact police, she said.