POLICE are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man narrowly escaped being blinded when a ball bearing gun was fired at him.

The incident occurred in Bishop Auckland's Newgate Street, near the Woolworths store, at around 2pm on Monday.

It is thought that a group of four youngsters bought the guns at about noon, before walking around town firing them.

One of the bearings hit a man in the face, narrowly missing his eye.

Acting Sergeant Peter Lonsdale of Bishop Auckland Police said: "He was in a lot of pain at the time, and although there were no real injuries, if it had hit him in the eye, he would have been blinded."

Anybody with information is asked to call act sgt 2171 Lonsdale on 0845 60 60 365.