POLICE are hunting children who shot at office workers with airguns.

About half a dozen employees at Lambourne House in Banbury Road, north Oxford, are believed to have been fired at. One is reported to have been hit in the leg.

Police were today quizzing staff at the offices of insurance firm General Accident and training company Stigma.

Diana Hawkins, of Stigma, said staff were targeted on Monday night and yesterday.

She said: "One of our senior managers was aware of a strange noise. Nothing hit her but she heard a crack, turned around to where she thought it was coming from and saw children up in a loft.

"She thought she saw the barrel of probably an air rifle and put two and two together.

"The house is in Summerhill Road, which runs alongside the building and where employees often park their cars."

General Accident worker Lynda Bolton, of Spruce Road, Kidlington, said: "Someone shot at me on Monday evening just after 8pm. I think it was from an air pistol. It sounded like it was quite close to me."

Mrs Bolton, 52, added: "I didn't believe it at first - it seems so incredible. You don't expect that sort of thing to happen."

A police spokesman said: "This sort of childish prank could result in a serious injury. We would like to warn those involved that this matter is under investigation and that punishment will follow."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.