Police are hunting a gunman who shot at bedroom windows while children slept inside.

The marksman continued to fire shots from his hiding place as officers combed Argyle Road, Brighton, for the culprit. The search failed to discover the shooter's hideout, despite an hour-long search.

They say youngsters could easily have been injured in the attack, which targeted windows in several storeys of a row of houses.

The shots were fired from what is believed to be an air rifle or ball bearing gun.

Hundreds of pounds of damage was caused as windows were smashed on different levels of five homes.

Shocked Jill Barwood, who has three young children, saw holes punctured in windows on the ground and first floor of her house. All the properties are backed by gardens and houses.

She said: "I was in the front bedroom and I heard a strange noise, like an electric bulb popping. It wasn't until the next day I saw the holes in the two windows.

"We were really upset about it. It was really weird. It is awful to think it could have been someone in the area who did it."

Police, who were called to one of the houses after the first shots were fired on Saturday night, believe the marksman targeted windows with lights on.

Helen Crocker, whose top floor window was shot at, said: "I am a bit disturbed the police came down and couldn't find who did it, but it could have been anyone. Someone could have been seriously hurt."

A spokeswoman for Brighton police said: "While officers were investigating, other properties continued to be shot at.

"We are treating it as criminal damage but if someone had been injured, it would have been a very serious crime. It is amazing no one was injured, especially since windows with lights on were being aimed at. If it was a ball bearing gun, people have been known to lose their eyes."