PARENTS are being warned of the dangers of airguns after two children were hurt in separate incidents.
A 12-year-old boy was due to undergo an operation at Hartlepool General Hospital last night after being shot by an airgun.
A pellet was lodged in his hand after an incident on Monday at a BMX track near the Black Path in Hartlepool. Two youths had been firing a gun into trees where children had been playing when the youngster was hit.
It was the second incident in the town involving air weapons. Half an hour earlier, a six-year-old girl was hit in the stomach in Monach Road.
The girl escaped with slight bruising.
Teenagers were said to be responsible for both incidents, and police are investigating.
A police spokesman said: "Air weapons are dangerous and in the wrong hands they can be lethal.
"They are not designed to be toys. People can be easily blinded by the foolhardy use of such guns and parents should be aware of the dangers they can cause.
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