A hospital care worker was shot dead when she walked into a "Wild West" style shoot-out, the Old Bailey heard today.

Polish national Magda Pniewska, 26, was an innocent victim who walked into the exchange of gunfire just yards from her home in New Cross, and died instantly after a bullet hit her head on October 2 last year.

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC claimed the two gunmen were two 17-year-old youths. Both were arrested but only one was charged - a teenager from Streatham Hill.

The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, had pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and possessing a gun to endanger life.

But he admitted having a prohibited weapon on the day of the incident.

"She had not been the intended target of that bullet," said Mr Altman. "In scenes reminiscent of the Wild West, Magda was to become the innocent victim of a gunfight by two young men who were total strangers to her.

"She was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he continued. "She was caught in the cross-fire between two youths armed with handguns which they were willing to use in public. Each had a score to settle."

Mr Altman said the prosecution did not accept his claim that he fired two or three times into the air.

But it was accepted that the bullet which killed the care worker did not come from the gun he fired.

The second youth had been named by him but had denied being involved. Police had so far been unable to connect him to the incident, the court was told.

The trial continues.