A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl was "lucky" to escape with superficial injuries when she was shot with a pellet gun while playing in a Bromsgrove street.

Police are hunting a group of boys who are believed to have struck when the youngster was playing with her brother and friends in Redcar Close.

The girl's mum, who didn't want to be named, said: "I just want my little girl to be able to play out in safety.

"She was obviously very upset and frightened by what had happened and now has a nasty bruise on her hip where the ball-bearing pellet hit her. Luckily it didn't pierce her skin."

The incident happened at around 7.20pm last Thursday and detectives are now hunting a group of white children who are aged ten to 12 years.

Chief Inspector John Molloy, of Bromsgrove police, said: "Police treat all reports of firearms incidents in a serious manner, the consequences of which some people fail to appreciate when taking ball-bearing guns, replicas and air weapons into public places.

"In the wrong circumstances these weapons present a real danger for children who play with them.

"The guns can also cause serious harm to others and this little girl was very lucky that the pellet caused only superficial damage."

Anyone with information can call the police on 01527 584888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.