15976/9Teenagers in Malmesbury who are wielding airguns and threatening residents have been condemned by councillors and the police.

Officers have seized three potentially lethal weapons from teenagers aged around 15 or 16 within the last week and say the crackdown will continue.

PC Dave Castle said: "These weapons are very dangerous. In one incident a toddler in Glasgow was killed by an airgun, they can kill regardless of what people think. If a teenager is seen with an airgun he can be arrested.

"So far we have made no arrests, but we have heard teenagers with the guns have threatened some people."

PC Castle said part of the problem was that the weapons could be bought new for around £150 and cheaply from Internet sites such as e-Bay.

Coun Martin Snell said parents must stop their children using such dangerous weapons.

He said: "I put it back to parent responsibility. We have to ask where the teenagers are getting the guns. They are lethal to the eyes and the sooner the police get those using them the better."

Hayley Brown, youth development co-ordinator at the Cartmell Community Centre on Tetbury Hill, said she felt airguns were a phase among some teenagers. She said: "I think we need to make people more aware. I am a parent so I think airguns are worrying and can cause serious injury."