A 14-year-old boy who shot a friend dead with an airgun has been convicted of manslaughter.

Daryl John Allison was 13 when he shot his friend Matthew Sheffield in the head on 29 April last year in the garden of his home in Croft Road, Eaglescliffe in Stockton-on-Tees.

The dead boy's parents called for tighter controls on the use of air weapons after their son's killer was convicted on Monday.

Mark and Wendy Sheffield said: "This case clearly shows the government should introduce stricter controls over air weapons.

The conviction followed a four-day trial

"People may think that air weapons are not dangerous but Matthew's death demonstrates that they are."

During the four-day trial, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court heard how Allison and his older brother Trevor got their hands on their father's airgun after a search in the attic.

Matthew and friends Simon Howard and Harry Keane went round to the house and joined in playing with the gun.

Prosecutor David Robson QC said some "increasingly dangerous behaviour began to occur."

Matthew had his cap snatched from his head and it was hung up in the garden as a target.

One shot was fired at the cap, missing it, before Matthew went down the garden path to retrieve it.

As he returned, Allison shot him - the pellet penetrating his skull just above the eyes.

Reports 'essential'

Matthew died the following day in hospital after his life-support machine was switched off.

Allison, who will be 15 on Sunday, was convicted of manslaughter but pleaded not guilty from the outset and an earlier trial jury at Teesside Crown Court failed to reach a verdict.

Judge Peter Fox QC, who lifted an order banning the naming Allison, said it was "essential" that pre-sentence reports be compiled before deciding his punishment.

Sentencing will take place at a later date.