A GIRL who has been bullied for most of her life was shot in the leg with an air gun last Friday.

Stacey Trott, 13, from Priory Close in Bradford on Avon was playing with her friend, Nicola Bailey, in Greenland Mills at 2.35pm.

The pair heard noises in the bushes before Stacey was shot in the leg.

Stacey said: "We were just talking and then we heard five shots. One missed my friend but the next shot hit me.

"I was so shocked. My leg felt as though it went bang all the way down. I hopped down to the railway and then saw my leg was bleeding.

"Nicola called the police and they came and took some details."

The pellet fell out of Stacey's leg and onto the road where police found it. Parents Annette and Leonard Trott have been left stunned by the shooting.

Mrs Trott said: "I was absolutely shocked at what had happened. There was a lot of blood coming from her leg and it took a lot to calm her down.

"She didn't want to go to hospital because she was so frightened and so we cleaned up the wound at home. This cannot go on. We are all in such a state over this."

Police are investigating the incident but say they are keeping an open mind about the nature of the attack.

Sergeant Pete Auburn of Bradford on Avon police said: "We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen anyone with any air weapons at the time or who have heard this person boasting about having done this."

But Mrs Trott wants to see justice for her daughter. She said: "My daughter has been bullied since she was at primary school and it has got to stop.

"I want something done about it because it is just getting worse."

Earlier in March this year Stacey was injured at school when she had a bottle thrown at her head.

A pair of juveniles were reprimanded by the police after the attack.

Mrs Trott said: "I can't lock my daughter up all the time, she's a teenager and she wants to go out and live a normal life.

"I have tried to contact the school about what has happened as the situation is getting worse.

"I have two other daughters and this has never happened to either of them. We just don't know what to do."