POLICE are looking for a giggling gun gang who shot a pensioner in the leg as he walked past Tyldesley Park late on Monday evening.

Seventy-years-old Don Shaw and his pal Roy Charnock were returning home at 11.35pm when Don was hit in the left calf by an air rifle pellet.

Police were called and after treatment at Bolton Infirmary Don, who says he had a lucky escape, was allowed home

Now both men, who heard the culprits laughing, have called for police action to clean up the park which they claim is used by under-age drinkers, glue sniffers and drug takers, and they have vowed not to let the incident change their routine.

Roy, 62, of Astley Street, said: "What sick people they are. It's no wonder old people are frightened of going out at night, but we're not being terrorised by them. This is a shooting incident and for it to happen in little Tyldesley, in a street where I have lived all my life, is shocking.

"I only came back from Majorca on Sunday and this incident has spoiled my holiday. I'm so angry. It comes to something when people are not safe walking about.

"Don and I go for a couple of pints together and this won't stop us.

"What we would like to know is where are the parents of these thugs? Surely they must know they are up to no good. If the pellet had gone higher there's no saying what the result might have been. It could have been much more serious."

Don, who said he felt fine after having the inch deep pellet removed, added: "They'll not keep me in, but it's about time the police did something to put a stop to what is going on."