Police have released CCTV footage of a 13-year-old boy pointing a fake gun directly at an armed officer.

Officers say the stand-off between armed police and the boy in Brixton illustrates the dangers posed by London's 'gun culture'.

Senior police officers say it is becoming impossible to tell the difference between real and fake guns.

The officer eventually managed to kick the gun away without hurting the boy, who was later charged with intent to use unlawful violence.

Fake guns look increasingly realistic

But there are concerns that the popularity of gun culture among London's youths means it is only a matter of time before one is shot in error.

Commander Alan Brown said: "It is no longer the preserve of the organised criminal. It is now being used in offences where no weapon would have been used in the past.

"This is a growing and ever more serious problem for the people of London."

Increasingly fake guns are being used in muggings and confrontations on the street, where previously no weapons would have been used.

Lee Jasper, who chairs the Lambeth police consultative group said gun culture had been glamourised.

He said: "Increasingly we are seeing large numbers of young people who are walking with fake weaponry.

"I think the Lambeth police consultative group will be writing to the home secretary to call for a ban on the sale of these replica weapons which, although fake on this occasion, can be converted into firing metal missiles and even home made bullets."