 The BB guns look like real firearms |
Police in Lancashire are urging youngsters to surrender their BB guns after firearms officers were called to 20 incidents in four months. The toys, which fire pellets, cannot be easily be distinguished from regular guns and often prompt an emergency police response.
Sgt Steve Bradshaw is urging parents not to buy their children BB guns at Christmas.
He said: "They are bought as toys, but to us they are imitation firearms."
A campaign is under way in the county to reduce the number of incidents that the trained firearms team is called to.
Since 1 August police in Lancashire have been called to 20 incidents involving BB guns.
Early education
When incidents are reported, police have responded on the basis of the toys being a real firearm, because the BB guns are so realistic.
Sgt Bradshaw said: "They look the same, and to a person in the street, especially from a distance, you cannot tell the difference."
Youngsters are being urged to hand in their BB guns, and fill out a questionnaire about them.
"The long-term aim is to get into schools and teach youngsters early about these so-called toys," Sgt Bradshaw said.
One-Minute World News 
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