A toddler was left with minor injuries after gunmen opened fire and hit a truck in which the youngster was playing, police said yesterday.

The two-year-old boy suffered cuts to his head after the men shot out the windows of the pick-up truck which was parked outside a house in Miles Platting, Greater Manchester.

It was thought the father of the boy was outside the property on Downley Walk when the attackers struck shortly before 7pm on Friday.

Police believe it was a targeted attack and that the child was not the intended victim.

Two men fired two or three shots towards the house, but missed and hit the truck where the boy and his twin brother were playing. The twin brother was not hurt.

Police believe the gunmen used a handgun.

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: "Police went to the scene and found the house had been unaffected by the attack but the windows of the truck parked outside, in which the two young children were playing, had been smashed.

"One of the two-year-olds had a small graze on his head caused by the glass being shattered by the shots.

"The injury was minor and no ambulance was required to treat the cut.

"Steps have also now been taken to give added protection to family."

Police believe they have identified the gunmen and that they are known to the mother of the children.