POLICE fear replica guns taken from a paintball site could be used in robberies.

Two pellet-firing handguns and a rifle, said to be indistinguishable from the real models, were part of a haul of equipment worth nearly £3,000.

They were taken from a locked metal container on the isolated site at Quarry House Wood, Pittington, near Durham City, probably in the last weekend of January.

The theft, which probably involved use of a vehicle to transport the haul, was reported to police last weekend.

Detective Constable Mick Turner said: "We believe the site has been deliberately targeted by a thief or thieves who knew what they were after.

"It may be that the property stolen will be sold on to others in the same kind of leisure activity but we are worried there could be a more sinister motive and that the guns could find their way into the hands of criminals.''

The replica guns include a Tokyo Marvi AEG Famas rifle with four magazines, a Gloch handgun with one magazine and a Desert Eagle handgun and magazine.

Also taken were an MO23 M14/A1 grenade launcher, an Inferno paintball launcher, camouflage webbing, a respirator, Kevlar body armour, and pyrotechnics including smoke grenades, paint grenades, flash bangs and parachute flares.

Anyone with information should call Durham City CID on 0845 6060365 or Crimestoppers (calls can be made anonymously) on 0800 555111.