No-one will be charged in connection with a shooting that left a teenager with brain damage.

Richard Bryant, 13, was shot in the head on January 4. He had been playing war games with his friends at the back of Park Square West, Jaywick.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident and three other boys were interviewed.

However Det Insp Len Jarman said following an investigation no-one was to be charged with any offence.

Police warned children to be careful over the Easter break and not to take risks with guns.

Mr Jarman said the decision not to charge anyone had been taken by the police in the public interest.

He added: "It looks like it was a tragic game that went wrong."

Mr Jarman said that Colbayns High School pupil Richard, who is now back home in Tudor Green, Jaywick, had brain damage as a result of the shooting.

Richard's mother Mandy had previously told the Gazette: "It has been a very traumatic time - a total nightmare - and there were times when he was on the life support machine that we thought we would lose him forever."

Richard came within a whisker of death when a pellet passed from one side of his head to the other - just missing his brain stem.

Surgeons performed a five-hour operation to remove the pellet. after it started to move.

He was taken to Colchester General and then to Addenbroke's Hospital in Cambridge for specialist treatment.

He was on a ventilator and life support equipment for more than two weeks before being moved to the children's ward.

Surgeons performed a five-hour operation to remove the pellet after it started to move.

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