Two people shot during 'break-in' at cottage in Melton Mowbray

Two men were shot during a reported break-in at an isolated cottage yesterday.

The two men were injured after being hit by shotgun fire at Grange Farm Cottage, Melton, in the early hours.

A police spokeswoman said the force received a call at 12.26am from a man who said a group of men had broken into his home.

She said: “The man stated that during the course of the incident he had fired a legally held shotgun and the intruders had left the scene.

“About five minutes later, the ambulance service called to tell us it had been called to a man with injuries consistent with shotgun injuries.

“A second man presented at Leicester Royal Infirmary with similar injuries.

“Neither’s injuries are life-threatening.”

The two injured men were arrested as they sought treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Two other men were arrested at the same hospital.

The men, aged 23, 27, 31 and 33, have all been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

A 35-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were also arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

A police car was guarding the driveway to the cottage yesterday afternoon.

Forensic officers were working inside the detached stone cottage, which lies down a single track and is hidden from the side road by a line of trees.

A white forensic tent was in place at the back of the house.

The cottage lies off a side road off Welby Lane. The side road leads to St Bartholomew’s Church, 150 yards away.

A 35-year-old man who lives in a house near the cottage said he was woken by the police helicopter at about 1.30am.

The man, who did not want to be named, said: “I heard the helicopter above the house.

“I could see it had its searchlight on and was hovering over the area just past the cottage and the church.

“About half an hour earlier, I had heard a car coming along the lane at speed.

“I didn’t think too much of it because we get courting couples up here at all hours.”

Sam Willder, 66, churchwarden at St Bartholomew’s, said: “It is a shock because it is such a quiet, peaceful area.

“You might expect this kind of thing in Leicester, perhaps, but not out here in the countryside.

“I don’t know anything about the people in the cottage.”

Mr Willder, said the historic church – a grade II*-listed building dating from 1120 – had been plagued by thieves and vandals in the past.

He said: “Recently, though, things have been much quieter and we are grateful for that.

This is an awful thing.”

The police spokeswoman said investigations had begun and six people – five men and one woman – had been arrested.

She said: “Inquiries are ongoing and there is very little else we can add at this time.”