A schoolgirl narrowly escaped injury when an airgun was fired at her and the pellets went through her schoolbag.
The 13-year-old was walking alone along Goring Road, St Anne's, Colchester, when she heard the sound of a gun being fired at about 3.40pm yesterday.
Although she was uninjured, the girl later discovered an air gun pellet had gone through the material of her schoolbag and been lodged in her lunchbox.
She was left shaken and upset by the incident.
Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said "These guns are a genuine nuisance. If someone is hit in the head or eye, they could be seriously hurt or even blinded. Permanent injury can be caused."
Yesterday's incident follows a spate of airgun shootings during the summer months.
Anyone with information about this latest incident is asked to call Colchester police on 01206 762212
Published Wednesday October 16, 2002
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