'DESPICABLE' is the word a grandmother used to describe the airgun-wielding thug who maimed her mild mannered grandson.

The attack happened on Monday evening as her 14-year-old grandson, who lacks confidence and attends a special school, was walking home along Charlton Road, Andover.

A youth riding a bicycle pedalled past him, firing an airgun pellet into his face from close quarters.

The pellet hit him in the cheek missing his eye by just a couple of inches.

His grandmother, who doesn't want to be named, said: "The effect has been more psychological than physical.

"I have spent years building up his self-confidence so he can go somewhere by himself. But this has set him back years and he could have been blinded in one eye.

"How mothers can allow youngsters to have airguns is beyond me. Their only use is to kill or maim."

Andover police are investigating the airgun attack and say they are treating the incident very seriously.

"This is something that concerns us and we would like to find the person responsible," said Detective Sergeant Paul Taylor.

"We have been told by the boy's grandmother that there was a group of young people in the bus shelter at the time and we would very much like to trace them."

The attack took place in Charlton Road between its junctions with Tollgate Road and Harrow Way, sometime between 7pm and 8pm.

The boy told police that he heard someone cycling behind him, then there was a funny noise followed by a stinging sensation on his face.

He was taken to Andover War Memorial Hospital for treatment. Anyone with information should call Andover CID on 0845 045 4545.