Parents have expressed their concerns after a girl in a playground was hit with a pellet fired from a gun outside school grounds.

The girl was struck at Wye School on Olantigh Road last Wednesday, April 25.

Luckily, she wasn't seriously injured.

The step-father of the 15 year-old, who asked not to be named, said: "She was on the playground at around 1.15pm sat on a bench with a teacher and heard noises, like stones hitting the ground.

"She felt something strike her arm and looked round and saw a man, with a rucksack, crouched down on the other side of the fence.

"The school got all the children inside and phoned the police. They were worried to release the children as they didn't know if the area was safe."

However, he claims that there has been a 'disgraceful' lack of action from the police since the incident.

"I called the police on Thursday morning and evening as they hadn't been to the school or got a statement from my step-daughter the day before and was told that they would come round to speak to her but they didn't come round until Sunday - four days after the incident.

"A schoolgirl was injured during the safe environment of her school and it was deliberate, it wasn't just kids messing around.

"In today's climate it's worrying, everybody needs to be vigilant.

He continued: "The police are treating it poorly. They're encouraging people to report unusual behaviour but then take four days to respond.

"The man will be thinking he's got away with it, its disgraceful."

"A schoolgirl was injured during the safe environment of her school and it was deliberate..." - The victim's stepfather

A Wye School spokesman said: "On Wednesday, a pupil was talking to a member of staff in the playground when someone fired a toy pellet gun into the school grounds from outside on the street.

"Two plastic pellets hit our student on the arm.

"As you would expect we immediately took students indoors and called the police as a precaution. The incident was dealt with very quickly by the school and everyone was fine. We will always act in the best interests of our students to ensure their safety.

"The police are still investigating."

A police spokeswoman said: "We are investigating a suspected assault, which happened from outside a school in Olantigh Road, Wye on Wednesday, April 25.

"It was reported that a teenage girl suffered an injury to her arm after being hit with a pellet whilst in the playground.

"Officers assessed the call, which was received at 2.34pm and in which the caller had said the suspect had already left the area, and deemed there was no further immediate risk.

She continued: "Police have since spoken with the victim and her family and continue to carry out enquiries, which includes the review of all CCTV opportunities.

"In the meantime, witnesses or anyone with information that could assist this investigation should call the Kent Police appeal line on 01843 222289 quoting reference 25-0647"