This is just not the kind of thing you would expect to happen in a quiet place like Margam

Headteacher Phil Whitcombe

It is believed to be the second incident involving airguns in south Wales this week, after school buses were damaged in Merthyr Vale on Monday.

The local youth was struck in the head whilst walking home from Dyffryn Comprehensive School with a friend.

He collapsed unconscious and underwent surgery at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

Headteacher Phil Whitcombe

Headteacher Phil Whitcombe described Daniel as a "very popular boy with a wide circle of friends" and said everyone at the school was finding it difficult to comprehend what had happened.

"Daniel has just left school for home 15 minutes before this happened," said Mr Whitcombe.

"This is just not the kind of thing you would expect to happen in a quiet place like Margam.

"I have spoken to Daniel's mother and she is understandably very upset," he added.

Ballistics experts

"This is a very serious incident which caused an injury that could have been fatal," said Detective Inspector Paul Stevens.

"We want to hear from anyone who saw him being shot and we will also be tracing anyone in the area who owns an airgun."

The rifle which fired the shot has not been found, and police are bringing in ballistics experts to examine the pellet, which may have been from .77 or a more powerful .22 air gun.

The boy has undergone surgery but the pellet was still lodged in his head Thursday afternoon, and police are unable to identify the sort of gun used.

South Wales Police, who have appealed for witnesses to contact them at Neath police station, are also planning to visit the boy's school to speak to pupils about the incident.

Buses damaged

In a separate incident in south Wales, two men have been charged by police after damage was caused to two local buses on Monday.

The buses, which were carrying schoolchildren from Afon Taf Comprehensive School were damaged when passing through Merthyr Vale.

Two buses are believed to have been damaged by air rifle

The damage is believed to have been caused by airgun pellets.

The two men have been charged with causing criminal damage with intent to endanger the public.

They have been bailed to appear later in the month at Merthyr Magistrates Court.

It is estimated that there are now more than four million privately owned airguns in the country.

In January 2002, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) launched a national campaign to encourage the safe handling and use of airguns.

The BASC is the largest country sports organisation in the UK.