This was an alarming incident and underlines the very real dangers caused by people who are in possession of air pistols

Police spokesman

One police source said: "The officers were faced with this girl waving a gun at them and were in an extremely delicate situation.

"They ordered her to put the firearm down and she was arrested and taken in to custody.

"It was late at night and all the officers could see was this silver weapon being thrust at them.

"She doesn't know how close she was to being shot if she did not do exactly as she was told."

After the girls was arrested it emerged that she was only 14 and had learning difficulties.

'Real dangers'

Police charged the teenager with firearms offences after it was discovered that the weapon she had been brandishing was an air pistol capable of causing serious injury.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed a 14-year-old girl had been charged with firearms offences.

He said: "This was an alarming incident and underlines the very real dangers caused by people who are in possession of air pistols or other firearms in public.

"The outcome could have been very different but fortunately it was resolved without anyone coming to harm."