TWO men seen playing with replica machine guns in the street risked being shot dead by armed officers, police have warned.

An armed response unit was dispatched after alarmed neighbours reported Paul Curson and Dane Johnson brandishing the guns, which fire plastic pellets, in Sleepy Valley, Stanley, County Durham.

Last night, Inspector Ian Proud, of Stanley police, warned: "People should realise running about in a street with what looks like a machine gun is a very dangerous exercise.

"If a gun was pointed at an armed officer, they could have been shot -it would not have been in a limb because a gunman with a wound can be more dangerous.

"We are not being gung-ho about this. We have to protect people, and firearm incidents in Derwentside are not unheard of. It is not illegal to sell them, but we would urge traders not to."

Yesterday, Johnson, 18, of Brooke Close, and Curson, 31, of Palm Terrace, both Stanley, appeared before Consett magistrates, where they admitted possession of an imitation firearm in a public place.

Sheila Moore, prosecuting, said the pair bought the imitation weapons from Stanley outdoor market for £15 each on the morning of February 17.

Johnson had an imitation Israeli Military Industry Micro Galil Assault Rifle, while Curson bought a replica Heckler and Koch MP5.

She said armed police were called at 9.40am to Woodside Grove and surrounded the area.

By that time, Johnson had smashed his gun up after it jammed, and had gone home.

Meanwhile, Curson went into a house in Woodside Grove. Armed officers remained in place and arrested him at gunpoint as he emerged at 1.20pm to get into a car. Johnson was later arrested at home. Magistrates yesterday fined the pair £75 with £50 costs each. The maximum penalty is six months' imprisonment or a £5,000 fine.

Judith Gowland, in mitigation, said: "The guns were sold as toys and that is what they were bought as.

"They decided to lark about outside with them not realising it was an offence. They did not realise it was frightening to other people."

Speaking afterwards, Curson said: "I have never been in trouble before, but the worst thing was that my kids had to watch me getting locked up at gunpoint."

"It is a kids' gun that they sell on the market. They should not be able to sell it if you can get locked up for it."

Johnson said: "We were playing about, having a laugh. They (the police) said it would have been different if we were kids, but they treated us differently because we were adults. There was no harm intended."