A 13-year-old is fighting for his life in hospital after he was shot in the back while walking down a street in Birmingham.

Emergency services were called after the teenager was shot in Hockley Circus, in the Hockley area of the city, shortly before 7pm on Thursday.

The male teenager was rushed to hospital in a critical condition with injuries described as being life-changing.

West Midlands Police have launched a search for the gunman and have urged any witnesses or people with information to get in touch.

A force spokesman said: “We are appealing after a teenager was shot in Hockley Circus, Birmingham, shortly before 7pm last night.

“Our investigations are in the very early stages, but we understand the 13-year-old was walking down Hockley Circus when he was shot in the back.

“He remains in hospital in a critical condition with injuries believed to be life-changing.

“Hockley Circus will remain closed for most of the morning as we conduct forensic enquiries. We thank you for your patience.

“We are urgently appealing to anyone in the area with any information.

“This is a busy area with lots of motorists, so we’re asking anyone with dashcams to check their footage as this may help us identify the people responsible.

“Also if you witnessed anything, please contact us as this information could provide integral to our investigation.”

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a gunshot incident near to Hockley Circus in Birmingham at 7.16pm last night.

“One ambulance, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor attended the scene.

“On arrival we discovered one patient, a teenage male, who was treated for serious injuries before being taken to hospital for further treatment.”

14-year-old boy stabbed to death in Croydon

A 14-year-old male died on Thursday in Croydon, south London, after self-presenting at hospital with stab wounds.

Police were called to London Road, near to West Croydon Railway Station, at 18:41pm on Thursday to reports of a fight involving a number of people.

Officers attended but no suspects or victims were found. Shortly after 7pm, police attended a south London hospital where the victim had self-presented with stab wounds.

Despite the efforts of doctors at the hospital, the teenage victim died a short time later.