16609POLICE have been bombarded with complaints about children wielding replica guns this week.
Several complaints a day during half-term have been received about youngsters firing the realistic-looking BB, or ball bearing, guns at houses in Trowbridge.
Insp Glynn Hookings said: "The increase in reported incidents involving BB guns is extremely worrying.
"They are not toys and have the potential to cause serious injury.
"We take any report of someone armed with a gun very seriously.
"There is the potential here for these youngsters to be confronted by armed police officers."
It is not illegal to buy the guns but it is illegal to have or fire an imitation firearm in a public place.
Insp Hookings said many youngsters are bought the guns by parents or relatives who are unaware they can be dangerous and that children can be arrested for taking them onto the streets.
In one incident in Innox Road on Tuesday police received three reports of youngsters firing the guns at homes. Two boys, aged 13 and 14, were arrested in connection with that incident and released on police bail.
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