AN eight-year-old girl was forced to cancel her Holy Communion party after her pony was shot in the face at point blank range.

Logan Murray was left heartbroken after she discovered her beloved Shetland/Dartmoor cross pony Tufty had been shot in the cheek with a .22 air rifle on Saturday after attending St Vincent’s Church in Norden.

The 21-year-old pony, which the family refer to as their ‘My Little Pony’, was grazing on land next to the family’s home in Rakehead Lane, Bacup, when the attack happened overnight on Friday.

Logan’s mum Jill has had Tufty since she was a foal.

She said: “I am absolutely shocked and disgusted by what’s happened.

“Tufty was my pony when I was little and I have now passed her on to my daughter.

“I can’t understand why anyone would do this, as she is so cute.

“I really hope it was children who did this as if it was an adult they need psychological help.

“Logan was that upset we had to cancel her Holy Communion party.

“The vet seems to think the pellet was shot at close range after looking at the wound but thankfully she will recover.

“Our Tufty is not only Tufty by name but Tufty by nature.”

The pony is lucky to be alive as the pellet entered her face close to her mouth and was still visible when the emergency vet was called out on Saturday.

She had a minor operation to remove the pellet and is expected to be on antibiotics for at least three weeks.

Pennine Divisional Insp Phil Broughton said: “It is disgusting that someone has deliberately targeted an innocent animal.

"We have now launched an investigation and we will be acquiring CCTV footage of the area.

"I would urge anyone with information to call us on 0845 1253545."