Three youths have been arrested after a teenage girl was injured in the head by a pellet fired from an air rifle.

She was walking with friends through Bullcroft Park in Wallingford when a pellet hit her forehead.

She was taken to hospital for treatment to a deep cut after being shot on Monday at 3pm. She was discharged later that day.

She is now said to be recovering well at home, despite being extremely shocked by the incident. Three youths, two aged 15 and one 14, have been arrested in connection with the shooting and police have seized two weapons from a house in Wallingford.

Forensic tests are now being carried out to see if they were the guns used in the attack.

The three boys have been questioned by police and released on police bail while officers carry out further inquiries and wait for the results of the forensic tests.

It is illegal to carry a loaded air gun of any size in a public place and it is illegal for youths under the age of 17 to buy or hire an air gun.

But they can, between the ages of 14 and 17, borrow one or be given one as a gift.

A police spokesman said: "Some youths look at air guns as toys but it only takes a pellet to be fired in slightly the wrong place, such as an eye, and it can quite easily be fatal."

Anyone with information about the incident should call Wallingford police on 01235 776082 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.