AIR gun pellets had to be removed from the heads of two Tunbridge Wells pupils after youths fired on a group of four friends as they walked to school.

The boys, from Tunbridge Wells Grammar School and aged between 15 and 17, were shot with an air rifle near the Tesco Express in London Road, Southborough.

They were taken to Kent and Sussex Hospital where one had a pellet removed from just above his eyebrow and another had one taken from his skull.

The other two boys were shot in the back - the pellets had passed through their school jackets and shirts.

West Kent Police arrested two 17-year-olds, not pupils at the school, in connection with the incident, on Wednesday November 3. Both have been bailed while further investigations are carried out.

Head teacher Derek Barnard has advised pupils to stay away from the area to avoid further trouble.

He said: "Boys in years 11, 12 and 13 are allowed out of school at lunch, and I don't want to stop that. But I have said that it might be prudent not to go to Southborough for the time being.

"The boys are back at school now but they have been shaken up by it all. In my 25 years here I have never seen anything like it."

West Kent Police is calling for witnesses to the attack to come forward to assist with the investigation.

It is also calling for anyone who has witnessed or been the victim of a similar incident to contact them as it is believed this is not the first time air rifles have been used near the Tesco store.

If you can help then contact West Kent Police on 01732 370732 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.