A TEENAGE girl has been shot in the face with a ball bearing gun.

The 14-year-old was attacked by three men, one of whom was carrying a gun and another, a metal pole. The men then stole the girl’s handbag.

Police were called at 8.47pm on Friday, January 2, to Stanmore Drive, Deane, following reports a girl had been assaulted.

They found the girl with injuries to her face, believed to have been caused by a ball bearing gun and a metal pole.

She was taken to hospital for treatment to her injuries, which are not life threatening and has undergone surgery to remove a pellet from her chin.

The girl was walking home on Gordon Avenue at the back of a petrol station with two friends, when three men described as Asian and around 18 to 19 years old approached them.

The victim and her friend walked off but realised their other friend was still near the men so they walked back to her.

The three men then surrounded the girl and one man pointed the gun at her face. The man then shot her. She also noticed another man holding a metal pole.

One of the men tried to grab her bag and as she struggled with him she was shot again in the face and hit with the pole.

The men then grabbed her bag and ran off.

Detective Inspector Simon Davies of Bolton CID said: "This is a truly horrific incident, where a young girl has been attacked and left injured by these malicious and cowardly individuals.

"It is extremely lucky this girl was not more seriously injured but the trauma of going through something like this will stay with her long after her wounds have healed.

"If anyone knows the identity of the men involved or saw three men running off with a handbag near to the area please get in touch.

"We need to find the people responsible so they can face the consequences of their atrocious behaviour."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 5740 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.