A Calne family have been left terrified after having their home and cars pelted with metal ball bearings, thought to have been fired from a catapult.

The Anger family, who live in Springfield Drive, were first attacked in July, when one of their bedroom windows was smashed by a ball bearing.

Then, on Sunday night, their home was bombarded with several missiles.

Mum Lesley Anger said: “It was about 11pm on Sunday and my son Chris jumped out of bed because he heard something ping off the house.

“We all went downstairs and rushed outside, which was actually probably a bit of a stupid thing to do.

“We found a load of these ball bearings on the ground and could see two of our cars had been hit as well. Then I was walking around outside trying to figure out what had happened and where they had come from and another ball bearing flew straight past me and hit the wall near where I was standing.”

And they were hit again on Tuesday night in a third attack. While the family were sitting down for dinner yet another ball bearing smashed into the wall, just missing a kitchen window.

Mrs Anger, who is a therapist and lives with her husband Nick and their children Chris, 22, and Jemma, 29, said: “It was absolutely terrifying because you can’t see where they are coming from. These things could easily kill someone.

“The path outside the house is very busy, even late at night, so the thought that someone could be hurt as they walk along is very frightening.

“And when we were sitting down eating our dinner – to think that you could be shot as you sit there is horrible.”

The family said they did not think they were being specifically targeted but that it was more likely they had been in the firing line of someone using the catapult.

Mrs Anger said: “I think they are just firing through an area to see how far it goes. I worry for the safety of people round here. Why do people even do this sort of thing? What is the point? They know it is going to cause damage. It makes me so cross.

“I hope there is a responsible adult out there who knows something about this and reports it to the police.”

PC Hans Monahan, of Calne Police, said: “These catapults are very powerful and can fire as far as 200 metres.

“There will be a parent or sibling out there who knows a member of their family has a catapult and ball bearings in their possession and I would urge them to contact the police.”

If you have any information relating to these incidents, contact Calne Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555 111.