Police in the town of Blois, in the department of Loir-et-Cher responded to gunfire at an apartment building around 10pm last Friday night.

Upon arrival, the security forces found three teenage boys in shock, including one 15-year-old who had suffered a facial injury. The youngster was taken to hospital.

Police would have been forgiven for thinking the shooting might have been related to a feud between warring gangs but instead the teenagers pointed the finger at their 81-year-old neighbour.

Officers then questioned the elderly lady at her apartment, where two rifles – one loaded – were discovered.

The octogenarian had apparently reached her limit, and decided to take her quest for peace and quiet into her own hands.

She admitted to police that she had fire shots from a rifle, but denied having aimed at the boys, according to French daily Le Parisien.

She was taken into custody on Friday night and released the next day. Police are awaiting the results of forensic testing on evidence taken from the scene.