New figures show a dramatic rise in the number of incidents armed police attended in Derbyshire.

In the 12 months to April, armed police were called to 253 incidents compared with 149 in the previous year - a rise of 70%.

A senior officer has blamed the rise of a new gun culture for the increase.

Police have also renewed their call for a ban on replica firearms.

We have even had people reportedly waving guns through the windows of cars on the motorway

Deputy Chief Constable Bob Wood

Deputy Chief Constable Bob Wood says there is a serious risk to people from what he called a new "gun carrying macho culture" with a worrying use of real or replica firearms.

He said: "Their use ranges from causing damage at the lower end to actually threatening people.

"We have even had people reportedly waving guns through the windows of cars on the motorway and using them to make threats in road rage incidents."

The number of replica, real or air weapons confiscated also rose to 110 from 53 in the previous 12 months.

The dangers of this kind of incident were dramatically shown in Derbyshire last year.

Steven Dickson, 30, died after being shot by police outside a house at Whitegates in Codnor.

He was holding a weapon which later turned out to be an unloaded replica.

The incident is still being investigated by the Police Complaints Authority