POLICE have warned of the dangers of paintball guns after a spate of shootings.

Officers in the North York Moors have confiscated two paintball guns in recent weeks. One gun was taken from a group of youths spotted firing from a car in Kirkbymoorside ten days ago.

Community beat officer PC Steve Leach said: "There was a car going round with four lads in indiscriminately firing at cars and pedestrians.

"I got a report that someone had been fired at and it had narrowly missed them.

"Then, the following day, one had been fired at someone's car in Westfield, and they had witnessed it being fired at other cars."

The car was traced and the youths were spoken to. A second gun was seized from a shop in Helmsley, where a number of buildings have been attacked.

PC Leach said: "I want people to realise that shooting at cars and pedestrians could result in them being prosecuted for a criminal offence. If a paintball hit someone in the face, it could have had their eye out."

PC Leach wants shops to sell the guns responsibly and parents to be aware the guns should not be taken into public places.