A woman left bleeding after being shot in the neck with an air rifle claims police did not respond properly to her 999 call.

Ann Winchester was standing outside her home talking to a neighbour when she was hit by a pellet on Monday.

The 55-year-old described hearing a whooshing sound close to her ear and then feeling a sudden sharp pain near her throat.

It happened at around 5.40pm.

The victim, who is about to undergo a hip operation, said: "To be quite honest we don't know where the shot came from.

"It hit me in the left side of the neck. The [police phone operator] lady told us to immediately go indoors and wait for them.

"Then I got a call from the emergency medical services who told me an ambulance was parked round the corner on Windmill Road because they couldn't go to me before police had sealed off the area and made sure it was safe.

"I was asked to walk to the ambulance, still bleeding a little, and not knowing if the person who shot me was still out there aiming."

Mrs Winchester, who lives in Dean Road, Milton Regis, said the first time she had any contact with the police was when officers from Medway visited her at Gillingham's Medway Maritime Hospital.

A police spokesman confirmed the force had received a complaint about the way the incident was handled, but added it would be inappropriate to comment.

A 21-year-old man has been interviewed under caution in connection with the shooting.