A JUDGE has called for a clamp- down on replica air weapons after a North-East man was jailed for waving a pistol at a youngster.

Judge Esmund Faulks' comments following a case at Durham Crown Court, were echoed by a police firearms expert.

Both were speaking about the German-made Brocock .22 air pistol, seized from a man who admitted an affray charge.

Judge Faulks imposed a suspended prison sentence on the defendant, who was alleged to have pointed it at a youth calling at his door to retrieve a football.

The youth fled, fearing it was a real handgun, and a witness reported the incident to police.

Sentencing the man, Judge Faulks said: "I hope the authorities closely examine whether or not it should be legitimate to sell this sort of pistol in the shops. It looks like a genuine revolver and I would have thought there was no justification for having that sort of weapon sold through the shops."

Durham Police firearms operations logistics officer Chris Barber agreed that the Brocock is one of many similar air pistols and ball-bearing firing guns which appear to be realistic handguns.

"There have been incidents where they have been converted to become a live firing weapon. We've had one in Durham," he said.

A Home Office spokesman said new legislation, due to come into force next year, will ban the sale, import or manufacture of weapons which could easily be converted.

It will also become an offence to carry a replica gun in public without good reason.