A YOUNG mum says she is too frightened to live in her own home after a 12-bore shotgun was fired through the letterbox.

Nicola Cox, of Shakespeare Road, Popley, Basingstoke, has been staying with her boyfriend since the incident, which police believe happened on Friday night when she was out of the house.

The shotgun was forced through the letterbox and fired at coats hanging on a rack and into the wall.

Police say they can find no motive for the attack.

Miss Cox, 26, lives with her 11-month-old son and with her parents, John and Carol Cox, who were on holiday at the time.

She said: "This has scared the living hell out of everybody in the neighbourhood - nobody feels safe.

"We have lived here for 21 years and it is the first time we have ever had any trouble. No one has tried to break into the house or even scratched a car before."

Miss Cox discovered damage to the letterbox on Saturday and initially thought somebody had attempted to break in.

"It makes me feel sick to think what could have happened if anyone had been in," she said.

"We don't know why or who has done it, so I don't know if they are coming back.

"It's frightening and absolutely bizarre."

Detective Constable Sin Margrie, of Basingstoke CID, said: "The shot would have killed a person.

"It went through a lot of coats and, from the outside, the coats hanging up would have looked like a person.

"It looks like a sledgehammer has hit the wall.

"Somebody must know something about this - this sort of thing doesn't normally happen in Basingstoke."

Det Con Margrie said: "We have no idea why it has happened and we are under the impression it could have been mistaken identity or a stupid and silly prank.

"We are urging anyone who heard the gunshot or saw anyone in the area acting suspiciously to get in touch."

Anyone with any information should call Basingstoke CID on 0845 045 45 45.