Two boys were shot with plastic ball bearing (BB) gun pellets as they walked to school.

One 11-year-old was hit on the back of a leg, causing reddening.

The attacks happened close to The Gallops, Findon, near Worthing, last Wednesday.

On Wednesday this week, a man carrying a BB gun sparked an armed police hunt that lasted more than two hours.

Police with machine guns descended on a road in Rustington, near Littlehampton, after a woman alerted them to a man carrying a weapon. But officers said a description from a witness suggested the man was carrying a BB gun.

Eight officers combed the area after the alarm was raised from Richmond Close just before 10am and the hunt continued until after midday. No arrests were made.

Sussex Police said they did not believe the two incidents were connected but a spokes-man added: "This is a problem involving gangs all over Sussex. The force is considering launching a campaign to combat the problem. Carrying one of these weapons in a public place is an arrestable offence and can result in imprisonment.

"These weapons are made in such a way that even trained police firearms officers cannot always tell them apart from the real thing."