Police today warned parents to make sure their children are using air weapons responsibly - after a retired teacher was shot at.

The warning also follows a string of airgun attacks on homes in Braintree and Witham with the vandals causing costly damage to the properties.

The retired teacher was left severely bruised and in pain after she was shot at with an airgun.

The 56-year-old woman was cycling along Nathans Lane in Writtle when she was hit.

As she travelled down the lane she passed a group of youngsters and when she got further down the lane she felt a pain in her bottom.

A police spokeswoman said the woman did not see a weapon as she passed the youngsters and thought they had thrown something at her and missed.

It was only when she got home and checked her injury she realised it could have been caused by an airgun.

Chief Insp Jed Stopher, a firearms officer of 20 years, labelled these guns as "lethal weapons".

"Having any air rifle or imitation firearm be it a rifle or hand gun isn't wise, especially in the current climate.

"We are at a heightened state of alert and one thing people do not need to do is carry around firearms in a public place.

He added: "It's not something we take lightly, we deal with them very seriously."

Published Monday, January 20, 2003