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An attempted murder investigation has begun after a woman in her 60s was struck by shotgun pellets in County Down.

Police said the pellets were fired through the window of a house in Brae Grove, Ballygowan just after 23:00 BST on Saturday.

The woman was hit on the head and back and was taken to hospital for treatment where she remains.

A man who was in the house at the time was unhurt.

It is believed a male suspect then made off in a white Transit style van shortly after the shooting.

Minister Nick Cooper from Ballygowan Presbyterian Church said the village is a quiet place and the attack has come as "quite a shock".

"Throughout Ballygowan we are a family community," he told ´óÏó´«Ã½ News NI.

"There are young families and children about the place and to have any firearms in the area is a great concern.

"Those who are involved in such things really need to catch themselves on to some degree, it’s not what we want in our community."

Det Ch Insp Kerry Brennan said it was "lucky" police were not investigating a murder at this time.

"There is no place in society for criminals who risk the safety of our community by bringing firearms onto our streets," she said.

She appealed for anyone with information or footage to contact police.