Newspaper headlines and video footage will be shown to pupils to give real-life examples of the consequences of carrying imitation firearms.

The visits have been arranged in a bid to cut the number of calls for armed response vehicles during the summer.

Statistics show nearly half of firearms callouts over the past three years involved youths with BB guns.

There is an increasing potential for a police shooting where an imitation firearm is mistaken for the real thing Sgt Lee Dowswell

Sgt Lee Dowswell said: "This is clearly a shocking figure and brings with it a number of concerns, such as youth involvement with crime and disorder.

"The most worrying of these concerns is the concept of armed officers confronting young people carrying imitation firearms."

Officers will deliver the message that pranks involving replica guns could end in tragedy.

Sgt Dowswell said: "It is clearly a worrying situation as there is an increasing potential for a police shooting where an imitation firearm is presented and mistaken for the real thing."

Pupils will also be told about the legal consequences of buying BB guns or replica firearms and carrying them in public.