A MAN who was shot in the face with a BB gun as he walked home from a family meal at a Swindon restaurant still has the metal pellet lodged in his head.

Had the pellet hit him two inches higher and Andrew Shepherd, 47, from Victoria Hill, would probably have lost an eye.

He spoke today of his shock at the unprovoked attack and said: "It's the sort of thing that happens in Chicago or New York not in Westmorland Road, Swindon."

BB guns are gas-powered pistols capable of firing 4.5mm ballbearings up to 200 yards.

The threat posed by such weapons was highlighted in an Advertiser investigation last month after a Persian cat called Charlie, from Park North, was shot four times in the head.

They are available for around £100 to anyone aged 17 or over at a handful of outlets in town. Police say they are becoming an increasing problem.

Mr Shepherd, a Swindon College caretaker, was attacked on his way home from attending a family meal at the Grove Restaurant, Drove Road, on Good Friday. The meal was to celebrate the marriage of his son Adrian, 22, to Nathalie Gray the following day.

Mr Shepherd and his sons Adrian and James, 16, stayed later than the rest of the party and walked home on their own. He came under fire shortly after 10pm on the corner of Westmorland and Groundwell roads.

He said: "It felt like something had hit me in the face. I put my hand to my nose and felt bleeding. My son said that sounded like a BB gun, so I said 'let's just get home quickly and see what the damage is'."

After calling the police Mr Shepherd went to casualty at Princess Margaret Hospital where he spent the next four hours. An X-ray revealed that a metal BB pellet had entered the right side of his nose and was lodged in his head. Doctors told Mr Shepherd that he could have lost an eye if the pellet had been inches higher.

It will have to be removed by surgery under general anaesthetic.

Mr Shepherd said that he was most concerned at the time that he would miss his son's big day. But the wedding went ahead as planned at the Kingdom Hall, Walcot.

Mr Shepherd attended with a large plaster on his nose and described the big day as "absolutely brilliant."

Police have arrested two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old in connection with the attack and released them on bail. It is believed that the weapon was fired from the window of a house where a party was taking place.

Mr Shepherd said: "If it was an accident I can be very understanding. I wouldn't like to think that anyone deliberately tried to shoot me. But if it was deliberate I'd like to get hold of them and ask them why they did it."

Anyone with information about the attack on Mr Shepherd should contact WPC Freeman at Swindon police on 528111.