Police warn parents fake guns may end in child death

Edinburgh police are called to around one incident every week involving an airgun or replica pistol, according to new figures.

And armed officers are authorised to use their weapons against potential gunmen, which could see a child badly injured or killed.

It comes as it emerged that 87 airguns were handed in to Lothian and Borders police since March following a nationwide campaign to get the deadly weapons off the streets.

Across Scotland, almost 500 of the weapons - also known as "BB" guns - were recovered in the campaign by the Scottish Executive and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

Superintendent Ian Ross of Lothian and Borders Police said: ‘We would urge the public to be responsible and consider the consequences of carrying guns - fake or otherwise.

"Armed police have to make split decisions under the most stressful circumstances and those carrying weapons could get seriously hurt."

He added: "I would make a particular appeal to parents to be responsible if you are considering buying a toy gun for your children, especially teenagers.

"They, in particular, may not realise the dangers of carrying these toys around the streets where the public may become alarmed and contact the police as a consequence."

In April, a three-year-old girl was shot in the head with an air gun pellet while she was playing in Harrison Park with her mother.

And last week, a gunman with an air pistol was held siege in Springwell Medical Centre on Ardmillan Terrace for almost three hours. A doctor locked the patient in her surgery after he allegedly showed her the pistol.