POLICE are investigating how a 19-year-old man came to be shot in the eye with an air rifle after an elderly couple were disturbed by what they thought was a burglar breaking in.

Anthony Spray, 63, was arrested and released on police bail following the shooting in High Cross, Broughton-in-Furness, in the early hours of Saturday, November 2.

Cumbria police said an elderly couple were disturbed by the sound of what they thought was someone attempting to break into their home, and the husband went to investigate.

The teenager was treated in Barrow's Furness General Hospital from which he was released yesterday (Thursday).

Police said his eye injury was serious but had not been life threatening.

Police spokesman Mike Smith said that the injured man was outside the property at the time he was injured, and there

was nothing to indicate that the house had been forcibly entered.

Mr Smith said the householder, Mr Spray, was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

He had not been charged and had been bailed to return to Barrow police station on November 18.

Mr Smith said police were trying to establish what happened, but could not speculate on the details.

"We are looking at how he came to be in a situation where he was injured, and that would include being in that particular location."