The girl did not hear the shot

The 12-year-old victim, who has not been named, lost nearly four pints of blood after being shot in the neck while playing with her brother on Friday.

She was on playing fields in Smethwick, West Midlands, when the pellet hit a main artery just below her collar bone.

The girl struggled home and was taken to hospital where she remains in a serious condition, West Midlands Police said.

She has undergone an operation to remove the pellet.

The two arrests were made on Monday afternoon.

A force spokesman said: "A 37-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy, both from Smethwick, have been arrested on suspicion of wounding.

"The pair remain in custody and are due to be interviewed by officers."

The incident happened at about 1600 GMT on Friday, when the girl was with her 13-year-old brother in Londonderry playing fields near their home.

She was bleeding when she got home but had not heard the shot and did not know what had happened to her until she arrived at hospital.