A BRASS band member narrowly escaped serious injury when he was shot with an air rifle after taking part in the annual Whit Friday marches in Saddleworth and Tameside.

Mark Gilbert, a bass player with the Haslingden and Helmshore Brass Band, was boarding a coach to return to Rossendale when he was hit by the pellet at the back of his head. Fellow band member Cathy Thacker said: "We called the police and they came and searched the area but whoever shot at Mark was long gone by then.

"The police said he was lucky that he hadn't turned his head or he could have been hit in the eye. We hadn't played well during they day but our band leader said he had never heard of any one being shot at for playing badly."

Mark, who works at Haslingden Public Hall, recovered from his ordeal in time to play at a band concert at the Astoria, Rawtenstall, on Saturday night.

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