Punk-metal band A have been shot at with an air rifle as they left a performance and were forced to escape in a car.

Thr group were fired upon from the seventh floor of an adjacent building as they left the Colosseum night club in Coventry. No-one was injured.

A spokesman for the band said the suspected shooter had been harassing A members as they prepared for their gig.

"The suspect had previously confronted both the band and their crew throughout the day, causing hassle as they went about loading their equipment into the venue," the spokesman said.

Bricks thrown

A's support band, The Beatsteaks, also came under attack.

Members were pelted with bricks as their tour bus pulled into the club and a pair of youths pulled a knife on their driver when he caught them trying to break into the vehicle.

West Midlands Police were called to the scene.

"It was reported by staff from the Colosseum that items were being thrown at staff and band members as they were leaving," a police spokesman said.

A's third album was released in March

"It was also reported that sounds like a pellet gun were heard.

"Police attended the scene and remained at the Colosseum as they prepared to leave."

The British band's single Starbucks is at number 20 in the UK charts.

A are Jason Perry on vocals, guitarist Mark Chapman, bass player Dan Carter, Adam Perry on drums and keyboard player Giles Perry. Their third album, Hi-fi Serious, was released in March.