A SWINDON MP is helping to put the issue of air gun misuse under the national spotlight following a number of incidents resulting in injury to people and pets in Swindon.

At a meeting in Westminster today, South Swindon MP Julia Drown was set to join other MPs from around the country as well as campaigning groups who want the Government to action on the growing problem.

The Advertiser has reported a number of incidents where so-called BB guns have inflicted serious injury, including an attack on Charlie, a Persian cat, who was shot in the head four times.

One of the worst attacks happened in April when Andrew Shepherd, 47, from Victoria Hill, was shot in the face as he walked home from a restaurant.

If the pellet had been two inches higher he would probably have lost an eye.

He said: "I am not against air guns per se if they are used to shoot at targets but I don't think they should be in the hands of children."

Under current legislation, children as young as 14 can possess and use such weapons unsupervised.

Ms Drown is supporting the campaign for tighter controls but is unsure whether this should been banning the weapons entirely or imposing stringent licensing laws.

She said: "My initial reaction is to call for them to be put out of circulation altogether but there is a debate to raise the some could possess an air gun. I want to hear more about that.

"People in Swindon are rightly concerned about the growing use of these dangerous weapons. This has been brought to my attention by local people and the police and I want to get their views heard in Parliament."