With the announcement of a ban on carrying replica guns and air weapons, an Essex importer of replica firearms says the government should concentrate on the illegal gun trade.

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced the ban on Wednesday.

Home Office officials said new legislation would prevent anyone carrying a replica or air weapon in a public place without a good reason.

But the commercial manager of Sportsmarketing, based in Colchester, says the emphasis should be shifted onto the criminal trade.

We are against anything that looks like a firearm being in the public domain Essex Police spokesman

The company - the UK's largest replica gun importer - distributed more than 250,000 replica hand and machine guns in the UK last year.

The plastic weapons, known as "soft air" guns, are imported by the firm.

Commercial manager Luke Nash said the guns fired plastic ammunition and could not be converted to fire real bullets.

"I personally think they should be concentrating on illegal black-market guns," he said.

Most people buy the replicas to have as part of a collection, said Mr Nash.

"The largest number of replicas sold in the UK are air soft replicas."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We are against anything that looks like a firearm being in the public domain.

"If we find ourselves in a position where we are dealing with someone who has something that looks like that in a public place that's a very hazardous situation."