Nottingham may no longer be a city where it is appropriate for children to play "cowboys and indians", a senior police officer has warned.

As Nottinghamshire Police continue to battle a growing problem with real guns, they are hoping to educate children about the confusion caused by toys.

Armed officers have been sent to more than 450 suspected firearms incidents this year - and nearly 70 ended up involving toy pellet and replica guns.

Head of operations, Superintendent Philip Oddie, said: "It is a real problem and I actually defy people to tell the difference frequently between a replica and the real thing."

I think it is outrageous in modern society that you can go and buy something that looks identical to the real firearm

Supt Philip Oddie

Young people brandishing toys and replicas can cause confusion and result in needless police call-outs, he said.

"I used to have toy guns and I used to be out there playing cowboys and indians and all the normal sorts of games, but places and cities do change," Mr Oddie said.

"I have lived in this city now for 24 years and it is a fantastic place and most of the changes have been positive, but this summer since July we have had 31shootings in the city - that is unheard of."

On Thursday, children at the William Crane School, in Aspley, will be shown examples of the toys and warned not to carry them.

'Police effort'

"Members of the public who see these weapons on the street really do not know.

"If we all act a bit more responsibly, police effort can be channelled into the criminal, and not the sighting of the individual with the replica gun."

Mr Oddie said he would support a ban on replicas.

"I think it is outrageous in modern society that you can go and buy something that looks identical to the real firearm.

"No, I don't want to ban toy guns, but can I just point out that in the hands of a criminal, toy guns and replica guns are being used to rob people in stores - that is a trend."