A Bradford charity fundraiser was shot in the neck as he sat fishing.

Michael Gale was rushed to hospital after the attack which saw an eight-millimetre pellet lodge in the back of his throat.

He underwent surgery to remove the pellet which he believes was fired from a 2.2 air rifle.

The 57-year-old landscape gardener was sat alone on the banks of Bierley Ponds near Rockhill Lane, Bradford, when he was knocked back in his chair by the pellet.

Mr Gale, of Brown Hill Drive, Birkenshaw, said: "I just heard a swish and then something hit my neck.

"I grabbed my neck and then I realised I was bleeding heavily.

"It was huge shock - I had no idea what had happened at first.

"I was just sitting there one moment and the next minute I had been shot with a pellet. I was sat in the middle of nowhere so I do not think it was an accident. I think it was deliberate."

Mr Gale has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity over the years in the London Marathon, including £5,000 for Airedale General Hosp-ital's baby unit.

"The specialist in hospital said I had been extremely lucky," he said. "The pellet just missed damaging my larynx and vocal chords."

Mr Gale was sat at the bottom edge of the first of the three ponds in the centre of the popular beauty spot when he was attacked some time between 7.45pm and 8pm on Monday night.

He said the area has been plagued by youths and he has seen youngsters carrying air rifles.

"Some youngsters nearby said they had heard some other kids in the woods firing a gun," said the dad-of-two. "I think it is far too easy for children to get hold of air rifles.

"I have seen a lot of children round there with air rifles on their backs and it's very distressing. They fire into the water at the ducks."

Mr Gale's 25-year-old son Phil scoured the area after his dad alerted him but could not find anything.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Officers attended the scene where they found the victim with a pellet wound to his neck, believed to have been caused by an unclassified weapon.

"An extensive search of the area was made but no witnesses or suspects were found.

"This incident must have been very frightening for the victim.

"We would remind people that it is illegal to fire or carry any type of offensive weapon in a public place and that we do take seriously reports of anyone doing this."

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 0845 6060606.