A TEENAGER has told of his horror after realising he had been shot with a high-powered hunting gun.

Robert Fay gritted his teeth and fought back the pain when a sniper opened fire as he walked home from school with two pals.

With blood pouring down his leg, the 13-year-old staggered to a near-by house following the air-gun attack at Fair Oak.

Doctors later removed a pellet that had embedded itself two inches into the calf muscle of Robert's right leg.

"I heard a bang and then felt a stinging pain on the side of my leg like I had been flicked with an elas-tic band," he said.

"I pulled up my trousers and there was blood pouring down my leg and soaking into my sock. I was quite frightened and kept thinking I might die of lead poisoning."

The youngster raised the alarm following the attack close to woods in Dean Road.

His mum, Janet, who works in the kitchens at Wyvern Comprehensive School, said: "I was in a state of shock when he phoned me and we went straight to hospital.

"The doctors said they don't often see gun-shot wounds and he was treated straight away. "He was given a local anaesthetic and they pulled out the pellet which has a sharp pointed end. If it had gone in slightly higher it would have shattered his knee."

Robert's dad, Martyncorrect, of Fair Oak Road, Bishopstoke, said police told him the bullet was a type used for hunting and was potentially lethal. "It just doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened if he had been hit on another part of his body. You just don't expect your children to get shot on their way home from school."

Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses to the shooting that happened around 3.15pm on Friday.

If you can help contact Eastleigh police on 01703 335444.

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