FOLK star Cara Dillon was “hit in the face several times” in a drive-by shooting with an airsoft or BB gun.

The singer, who hails from Northern Ireland but lives near Frome, said she was heading to dinner in the town at around 7pm on Wednesday (June 5) when the incident unfolded.

She said she was left “really, really shocked” by the incident, which happened on the corner of Bath Street and Cork Street.

She said she was walking with husband Sam Lakeman when “a vehicle drive past with the window down”.

“We both heard an automatic BB or Airsoft gun fire about eight to 12 shots and I was hit in the face several times,” the 48-year-old said.

“My left eyeball was it, my cheek and around my eye.

“It felt like someone had thrown a handful of stones at me, it was very painful.

“Anyway, I was in tears, couldn’t pen my eye, a nice lady helped and it took us all a minute to realise what had happened.”

She said they recovered around seven pellets from the ground, which were “gel-like and not solid plastic”.

“The police were on the scene very quickly and were looking at CCTV from the town centre,” she added. “They were very helpful and considerate.”

She said although she has suffered bruising and a “sore eye”, there appeared to be no lasting damage to her eye.

“Thanks again for all the kind comments and rest assured I’m fine, just a little shaken up,” Cara added.

The singer is renowned in the folk world and has been praised by the likes of Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran, who described her voice as “sublime”.