Pub airgun shooting girl 'stable'

The Normacot Hotel has been sealed off while police investigate

The family of a three-year-old girl shot with an airgun in an accident at a pub are at her bedside in hospital.

The girl, who has not been named, was in a stable condition on Wednesday morning at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Doctors at the hospital said she had had a comfortable night.

Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident which happened at the Normacot Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent, on Monday evening.

Tragic accident

Police said the girl was in a bedroom in a private area of the pub when the incident took place.

They have spoken to another child who was in the bedroom with the girl at the time and a weapon has been recovered.

Det Insp Wayne Jones said it appeared to be a tragic accident.

"We are still working to establish the circumstances which lead to the discharge of the weapon and we are working to support the family at this distressing time," he said.