Police have launched a hunt to find a trigger happy thug who shot a school girl in the head.

His 13-year-old victim, who is not being named, was shot in the face, an air gun pellet lodging in her nasal bone - half an inch from her eye.

The youngster spent the weekend in the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, following the attack which happened outside the Whale Hill shops, Easton, near Middlesbrough, at about 11pm on Saturday.

Although, she was discharged surgeons are expected to try and remove the pellet on her return to the same hospital, later this week. The air rifle toting hooligan may have been among a group of 14 year olds observed in the area, all clad in camouflage clothing and carrying rucksacks and sleeping bags.

Appealing for witnesses to come forward, Detective Sergeant Tom Drysdale of Cleveland Police said yesterday (MON): "This was an indiscriminate, callous and senseless attack which could have had horrendous consequences. This young girl could quite easily have been blinded or worse. As it is she may have to undergo surgery to remove this pellet which has embedded in her nasal bone.

"Air weapons are not toys; they can be deadly in the wrong hand. It's only by good luck that this girl did not suffer more serious injuries. "I would particularly like to speak to the youths who were around 14 years old and anyone else who was in the area at the time.''

Anyone with information about the incident should either phone Cleveland Police on (01642) 302626 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.