A BOLTON mother-of-two underwent surgery today after she was shot in the neck on her way home from a Robbie Williams concert.

Michelle George, from Breightmet, received a deep wound in the nape of her neck after the gunman opened fire at close range from a car.

The 31-year-old was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital after the incident, which happened in Walkden shortly after midnight yesterday.

She had surgery to have the airgun pellet removed today, but the surgery could leave her right arm and face numb for several weeks because the wound is close to vital arteries and nerves.

Michelle, her 27-year-old sister Alison George, and friends Jackie Isherwood and Louise Butterworth, who are all from Breightmet, had enjoyed the concert at Manchester Arena.

The event finished at 11pm, but the last train to Bolton from Victoria station left at 10.50pm, leaving the women stranded.

They decided to catch a train to Walkden from where they planned to phone for a lift or get a taxi home.

As they walked along High Street in Walkden towards the telephone box the four women noticed a car parked nearby, but thought nothing of it.

As they approached the Curry 2000 restaurant, they heard a popping noise and Michelle was suddenly covered in blood.

Alison, who has two sons, realised the shot had come from the nearby parked car when she spotted a man in the back of the vehicle suddenly closing the window.

She said: "The car didn't even set off quickly, but drove away slowly. The whole incident was very surreal and I am still in total shock. Why would anyone get a kick out of doing something so senseless?

"We are also very annoyed with the lack of communication between Manchester Arena and the train station which left us stranded in the first place. The last train to Bolton should have left after the concert and not before the end."

Michelle, who works at a solicitor's in Bolton, is trying to keep in good spirits and was delighted to receive a visit in hospital from her two sons, 12-year-old Christopher and Daniel, aged nine.

Speaking from her hospital bed in the High Dependency Unit, Michelle said: "I'm still very shocked. The attack was just mindless and I can't understand it because I've not done anything to hurt anyone.

"It was the first concert I'd ever been to and I had an excellent night before this happened.

"It was just lucky Alison was asking me for some change for the phone when it happened as I turned towards her and the pellet hit me in the neck -- otherwise it would have been my face.

"The doctors tell me it could have been much worse. "

The car involved in the attack was an old silver Volkswagen Golf and two men are believed to have been in the vehicle.

Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information should call Swinton Police on 0161 872 5050.