THE VICTIM of a terrifying airgun attack has spoken exclusively to the Citizen about his ordeal.

The local teenager is still shaken by the violent incident in which a young woman approached him and fired an airgun into his face at point-blank range.

Luckily he escaped serious injury, the pellet bedded into his cheek just an inch below his eye, but he was then chased by a male accomplice who threatened violence.

Police believe the unprovoked attack may have been bizarre and misguided vigilante action.

The 17-year-old had been visiting friends and was returning home on Saturday night with his girlfriend along Ullswater Road when the incident happened.

"I was walking home from my mate's house and was having a bit of an argument with my girlfriend when this woman came up to me with an airgun," said the teenager, who asked us to respect his anonymity.

"She started accusing me of hitting my girlfriend and then she fired the gun at me. My girlfriend was telling her that I'd never hit her but this woman said my girlfriend shouldn't lie to her because she was a big drug dealer. I was really scared. I didn't know what was going on. I was shot and then chased by this man.

"I've never seen them before in my life."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the violent incident which occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning on Ullswater Road.

A police spokesman confirmed that the attack was unprovoked and may have arisen from an incorrect assumption that the aggrieved had struck his girlfriend.

The young woman who fired the air pistol is thought to have left the area in a four wheel drive vehicle which was a light colour and may have been parked near the Gregson Centre prior to the incident.

Police are keen to trace any witnesses who were in the area at the time, particularly the male driver of a silver Peugeot 106, who was flagged down by the injured teenager on Ullswater Road, near to Kentmere Road, immediately after the attack. It is believed he may have driven past the attacker.

The young female assailant is described as female, white, slim to medium build, around 20 years old, 5ft 5in to 5ft 7in tall, with straight, blonde shoulder length hair.

The male associate of the attacker is described as white, early 20s and 5ft 9in tall.

The teenager has had a medical assessment and does not require surgery.

A police spokesman said: "We are treating this incident very seriously.

"The young man has asked us respect his privacy but if anyone has any information relating to this crime we urge them to contact us."

Contact the police direct on 63333.