POLICE say there are no plans for North-East officers to carry the new US-style stun guns capable of delivering 50,000-volt shocks.

Five police forces are involved in trials of the Taser guns, which fire needle-tipped darts up to 21ft to deliver the disabling, high-voltage shock.

The guns, manufactured, by US firm Taser Interational, are designed to temporarily stun suspects by targeting their muscles, forcing them to collapse.

The move comes after growing pressure for a less lethal weapon in a bid to reduce the number of people shot dead by armed police.

Officers have been instructed to shout warnings at their targets before firing the gun.

The high-voltage electrical current is capable of penetrating clothing up to two inches thick, and its manufacturer says the device causes no long-term injuries and only short-term skin irritation.

But the firm said there was a danger of an eye injury if they were fired at someone's face.

The 12-month trial is being piloted in Northamptonshire, London, North Wales, Thames Valley and Lincolnshire.

Yesterday, forces in the North-East were reserving judgement.

Inspector Roy Smith, of Durham Police, said: "Obviously we will be interested in the results, but for the moment, we are satisfied with the range of options currently available to our officers and we have no plans to use Tasers just yet."

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "We are awaiting the outcome of the pilot schemes with interest."

Chief Superintendent Bob Pattison, head of operational support at Northumbria Police, said: "We are monitoring the five forces which are going ahead with this, and until the pilot is concluded and the results analysed, we have no intention of introducing them."

The weapons will only be used by fully trained officers.

But John Wadham, director of civil rights group Liberty, said there were serious concerns about the safety of the guns.

He said: "There should be thorough independent testing in the UK before these weapons are used on the public.