THE case of a North-East schoolgirl blinded in one eye during an airgun attack has been used to highlight a campaign for tighter gun controls.

Nicola Distin, 15, lost the sight in her left eye after thugs shot her in the face with an airgun pellet.

It was the latest and most serious of a spate of attacks across the region and prompted Gateshead Borough Council bosses to start a petition calling on the government to tighten controls on the weapons.

Nicola, her mother Sandra, and friends, from Felling, Gateshead, joined the Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Joseph Hattam in signing the petition yesterday.

The council's deputy leader, Councillor Mick Henry, said: "The tragic case of young Nicola demonstrates that airguns are just as dangerous as other firearms.

"We feel strongly that tougher laws should be introduced to make it harder for people to get hold of, and keep, airguns.

"At the moment, it feels like anyone of any age can run around with these weapons, and a lot of people are very upset and angry about that.

"We will be compiling a dossier of information on the subject and want the Home Secretary to change the law so it is an offence to have an airgun without a licence."

Petitions are available for signing at Gateshead Civic Centre and libraries across the district.