A teenager jailed for a "bloody and brazen" shotgun ambush in High Wycombe woodland has failed to convince Appeal Court judges his trial was unfair.

Umar Hussain was caged for a total of 12 years for his role in two violent incidents last May - one of which led to him firing more than 100 pieces of pellets at a rival gang member with a shotgun.

Lawyers acting for the 19-year-old, of Underwood Road, claimed at the Court of Appeal yesterday his conviction was unsafe.

His legal team claimed the judge at the original trial should have barred the prosecution from recalling two key witnesses to testify - one of whom ultimately identified Hussain as the gunman.

The pair had given evidence earlier in the trial but had failed to point the finger at Hussain.

But Crown lawyers called them back into the witness box later - after they claimed they had previously been pressured and received "intimidating phone calls".

Lord Justice Treacy, sitting with Mr Justice Blake and Judge Deborah Taylor QC, rejected arguments that the two men's amended testimony should have been excluded.

He said: "We are satisfied that the trial judge correctly exercised his discretion to admit this fresh evidence.

"We are unpersuaded that there is any basis for concluding that the judge was in error or that these convictions were unsafe.

"This appeal is therefore dismissed."

Hussain was convicted by a jury of violent disorder, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent following the horrific attack in woodland off Lucas Road, near his home.

He was one of five youths to be convicted in relation to a clash between two rival gangs involving baseball bats and metal poles at a park in Totteridge on May 11. Four of them received jail sentences, while his father, Iftikhar, was also caged for four years for threatening and intimidating witnesses, having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Later in the day Hussain shot at members of the rival gang as they walked through woodland near his home.