POLICE have revealed that a shooting accident where a man suffered serious injuries took place in Catton near Swadlincote.

The 50-year-old was shot in the back from relatively close range during an organised pheasant shoot.

He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, by air ambulance.

The accident happened at 2.45pm on Friday.

The person who shot the man has been voluntarily questioned by police and has not been arrested.

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed about the incident.

A spokesman for the police said at this stage it was not a criminal investigation.

He said: "At the moment we are treating this as an accident."