A child was left bleeding and screaming with pain after he was shot in the face with a BB gun.

The seven-year-old victim will now miss out on playing in the street during half-term because his mum fears it could happen again.

Joshua Palmer was on the doorstep of his home, in Mumford Close, West Bergholt, when the shooting happened.

His mum, Lorna, said: "He got a knock on the door at about five to nine and it was his friend from down the road.

"He went to the door to speak to him and while he stood on the doorstep, some boys fired a BB gun at him.

"It hit him on the nose and his nose just poured with blood. If it had gone any higher and hit him in the eye he could have lost his eye."

After the shooting, at about 9pm yesterday, a 13-year-old boy was spoken to by police and given a warning.

Published Tuesday June 1, 2004

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