A boy fears his sight may be permanently damaged after he was shot in the eye with a BB pellet gun.

Michael Harris, who lives in Coldean, Brighton, has been left with bruising and bleeding behind his left eye.

He is praying his eyesight has not been permanently damaged.

The Patcham High School pupil was waiting for a bus outside the Royal Pavilion, near the Old Steine, when a youth sped past on a skateboard.

He was shooting at passing cars when a stray bullet hit Michael, 13.

Police, who have launched an investigation, condemned the culprit and appealed for information to trace him.

Michael staggered into a bus shelter and a man and woman helped him on to his bus and paid his fare.

When he arrived home, his mother, Audrey, 34, took him straight to hospital where he spent two hours.

A keen footballer, Michael had to miss playing for his team Rottingdean FC and he will be back at the Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton on Monday for another check-up.

Mrs Harris, who wept when she first saw her son's injury, said: "His vision is blurred in that eye and we are all very distressed.

"His eye is bruised and there was blood at the back. We are worried and just hoping his sight isn't damaged."

Mrs Harris, who has three other children, added: "I can't believe someone was going round firing these guns in the street like that. What if he had hit a young child? These pellet guns shouldn't be allowed."

It is an offence to discharge an air gun in public. Inspector Kevin Claxton, of Brighton police, said: "This was a very stupid act by this youth. He could have caused serious injury. We urgently need to trace him to prevent possible further incidents."

Anyone with information should call Brighton police on 0845 6070999.