ARMED response police officers have been into the classroom to warn Blackburn teenagers of the dangers of playing with imitation guns.

Officers are targeting secondary schools to raise awareness of new laws governing ball-bearing and airguns.

They visited Witton Park High School yesterday , where youngsters compared real and replica weapons, and heard of new restraints.

Police are visiting all Blackburn's senior schools. Posters, leaflets and assemblies are being used to hammer home the stark warning that teenagers playing with imitation guns in public could be arrested -- and risk being shot.

Officers also hope to reduce the number of incidents requiring specialist officers and patrols for lengthy periods.

Sgt Pete Sculphers said three-quarters of call-outs involved replica guns.

He said: "Ball-bearing guns can be bought from as little as £3, while air weapons start at £40. BB-guns can be bought legally by anyone and Blackpool shops are full of them. But people have to be aged 17 to buy air weapons.

"And certificates are needed for higher-powered pistols and rifles.

"We don't want to be kill-joys. We realise people can use these responsibly at target practices and on private land."

But he said the Anti-Social Behaviour Act in January made it a criminal offence to possess an imitation firearm in public.

One particular difficulty is that imitation guns are so realistic that police officers cannot tell if weapons are real or not from a distance.

PC Wendy Jacobs said: "Because of this realism, playing with guns in public can cause considerable alarm to innocent people. This can lead to the deployment of armed response officers -- and the diversion of special units from regular patrols, who treat these matters extremely seriously."

Official figures show that, in the last four years, there were 44 police shootings in England and Wales. Eleven resulted in the death of offenders, while only five incidents involved real firearms.

A further six people were shot dead in possession of imitation firearms, ball bearing guns and replicas.

PC Anna Dent said: "No one has ever been shot by a police officer in Lancashire, but it has happened elsewhere. The message is stop having fun with guns and act responsibly."

Witton Park pupils are featured on the posters and head teacher John Gosling said: "This is an extremely important and impactive campaign. The pupils have learnt lots."

Pupil Matthew Cockerill, 14, of New Wellington Street, said: "Lads used to play with BB guns in the Griffin area but this campaign shows how realistic these guns are. There was an amnesty early this year, where guns were smashed up, and that was another good idea."

Shabana Kalu, 15, of Cherry Street, said: "Pupils were in a serious mood talking to the police. It's good to let people know the consequences. Loads of lads play with air guns in my area, pointing them at each other. I think guns should be destroyed."

Guns can be handed to the police and guidance is available on 01254 353060.