A FAMILY cat could lose its leg after being shot by an air rifle pellet which, it is claimed, was powerful enough to wound a small child.

Nine-year-old Pepsi had to be rushed to an emergency vets following the shooting, thought to have occurred in woodlands near York Lane in Langho.

Police said it is the first incident reported to them in the area. However they are concerned that youths could be using the air rifles and 'sniping' at animals 'for fun'.

Pepsi hobbled back to his York Lane home after a pellet was shot through his back thigh, shattering the bone and travelling out through his knee cap.

Pepsi's owner and mother-of-two Elaine Whitehead, 39, said: "Pepsi is in a lot of pain and confused.

"We are very angry that someone could do this and feel justified in harming innocent animals and leaving them so traumatised."

The black and white cat was taken to Town and Country emergency vets in Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, on the night of the attack, two weeks ago and then to Spring Field Surgery in Redlam, Witton, for further treatment.

The Whitehead family now face a veterinary bill of more than £100 for the pain killers and anti-biotics needed to heal the wound over the coming weeks but have been told the cat may still lose its leg.

No licence is needed to possess an air rifles. A spokesman for Blackburn police said they would be keeping an eye on the area.

He said: "This incident was promptly reported to us but there have been no other cases reported. A powerful gun must have been used to cause such injuries and would have enough force to wound a small child.

"We would clearly be concerned if any such attacks occurred again."