POLICE say a man hit on the forehead with an air rifle pellet was lucky not to lose an eye.

The 41-year-old workman was struck about an inch-and-a-half above his right eye while he and colleagues were renovating a house in Station Road, West Rainton, County Durham, near the A690 Dur-ham City to Sunderland road.

He declined to have any medical treatment but went home to Carrville, Durham City. Police say he was shocked by the incident.

It happened at 11am yesterday morning and it is believed that the shot came from fields where youths were reported to be firing air weapons.

Police with dogs searched the land, which is between a disused railway and the site of the fire-ravaged Rainton Lodge Motel, but found no one.

Sergeant Alan Liddle said: "This gentleman has had a very narrow escape as he could easily have lost an eye.

"While it is possible he was hit by a stray pellet, it seems far more likely he was the victim of a deliberate act, as two previous shots had just gone past close to where the men were working.

"We will be stepping up patrols in the area in a bid to put a stop to this and would appeal to local residents to contact us if they have any concerns about people using air weapons in the fields."

Police are warning that changes to the law mean it is now an arrestable offence for anyone to carry an air weapon in a public space, whether loaded or not, without valid legal grounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Durham City police on 0845 6060365 or Crime-stoppers on 0800 555111.