Attacks involving BB guns and air rifles are on the rise, say police

In the past two weeks alone, three people and a cat have been injured in attacks in the Thanet area, they said.

In one case, a woman in her 50s was shot in the face, the air rifle pellet narrowly missing her eye.

Supt Penny Martin said the attacks suggested "the indiscriminate use of these weapons is quite widespread".

She also warned people who carry air weapons about the danger of being injured themselves.

This is because the standard procedure after getting reports of a weapon being seen is to send out an armed response unit.

They asked children, parents and retailers to consider the dangers posed by air rifles and BB guns and urged them to act responsibly.