A MOTHER whose teenage son was involved in a break in during which he was shot in the arm while in the care of Swindon social services says the town's troubled young people are being let down by the town.

Since being taken into Swindon Council care a week ago, the 15-year-old from East Swindon has been placed in an unsupervised bed and breakfast hotel in the town with several other teenagers.

Three nights after he arrived, they broke into a nearby shop and stole ball bearing guns and air rifles, and the boy was shot in the shoulder as his friends fired at passing motorists.

He was arrested, thrown out of the guesthouse, and has spent at least three nights sleeping rough since, after refusing to stay with a council foster carer.

Now his mother, who asked the council for help after losing control of her son, has been told to take responsibility for him again.

But she has not seen him for a week, and says she is disgusted at how the council looked after him.

"I'm worried about him," said the mother, who also cannot be named for legal reasons.

"I'm a caring mother and I have only asked the social services to get involved because I needed help.

"But I'm disgusted that children from the age of 13 are being put into an unsupervised B&B.

"They are kicked out for the day after breakfast, meaning they are bound to get into trouble, and then allowed back in for their evening meal.

"Why can't a complex be built where children can be given a room to themselves and have a warden on site so they are actually cared for and not just dumped?"

The teenager was originally placed under social services supervision after being arrested last month for his first alleged offences, theft and criminal damage.

He has also been excluded from school because he will not respect authority.

And he has not turned up for his part-time work experience stint with a printing firm for a fortnight.

His mum, who looked after the boy and his sister alone while also holding down a full-time job, said she was desperate to do something for her son before it was too late.

She believes there should be more counselling available for children like her son, who are beginning to display behavioural problems.

"We just need to get help for him to find out what the root of his problems are so he doesn't screw up the rest of his life," she said.

"He's got a good heart, he's lovely, but he's just lost his way."

Police made seven arrests after the shooting incident last week. In all 12 weapons were stolen from Swindon Angling Centre, including air guns and BB guns, which shoot ball bearings.

The group of youths allegedly used the guns to shoot at passing motorists in Sheppard Street.

Officers recovered 11 of the 12 stolen weapons and the seven youths, aged between 15 and 18 were questioned and released on police bail pending further inquiries.