Boy, 12, shot in 'hunting' area

A 12-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot in the head in an area popular with night time hunters, known as "lampers".

The boy was walking near a golf course in Castleford with his father at 2030 BST on Thursday when he was shot.

A police spokeswoman said he was taken to Pontefract General Infirmary where he remains in a critical condition.

The father found his son with a gunshot wound after the pair were distracted by a bright light, she added.

Bright lights

West Yorkshire Police are trying to trace anyone who was in the area around Whitwood Golf Course at the time of the incident.

"They are particularly interested in anyone who may have seen or been using bright lights. The area is known to be popular with lampers," the spokeswoman added.

Earlier this month, a 13-year-old boy died in Devon after being shot during while out hunting at night.

Byron Evans was among a party of adults and teenagers who were hunting on land near Harberton.

He died from a single bullet wound and it is thought one of the adults may have mistaken him for a fox.