Prosecutors to decide whether to charge gun accident father

Prosecutors will decide whether a father who shot his two-year-old son in the neck will face criminal charges, police said today.

Blake Lowing was "recovering well" from surgery in a hospital ward, having been moved from intensive care. His condition was described as "stable".

The youngster was shot by his father Jamie Lowing, 29, when he accidentally fired the gun at him in his family home in Winthorpe, Skegness, in Lincolnshire.

Last night, Mr Lowing, who was arrested after Monday's incident, was released on bail to be by his son's bedside. It is thought he fired the gun without knowing it was loaded.

Today, a spokeswoman for Lincolnshire Police said: "The boy has been removed from the intensive care unit to a ward and he is recovering well from surgery.

"We are carrying on taking statements and speaking to people. The CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) will decide whether there were any offences (committed) and whether there will be any charges but that is some way off."

Blake was initially taken to Skegness Hospital before he was later transferred to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, where he underwent surgery to remove the air rifle pellet from his neck.

His mother Caroline, 26, and father are understood to be by his bedside in hospital.