GARETH Thomas is aiming to attract people back to shooting clubs after becoming a trophy winner in his 60s.

The former British Aerospace worker has spent a happy retirement returning to the sport he got involved in when he was eight -- and hates the image shooting has got at the moment.

Gareth is a member of Blackburn Rifle and Pistol Club and has 'never killed anything.'

He is a target shooter -- aiming mostly at paper targets -- where he has excelled late in life.

"I won seven cups, six trophies and nine Certificates of Excellence last year and have six trophies and six cups so far from this year," said the 62-year-old.

"It is a very enjoyable hobby and I love going down to the club.

"The club lost 200 members when there was a ban on hand guns and obviously we are keen to get the membership back up for all the competitions we play in.

"It is the safest sport I know.

"Any guns anywhere are regularly checked by the police. They check that they are locked away in a safe steel box. They cannot be got at and it's all in line with legislation.

"And during competitions and practice, it is so strict. I have never known anyone come anywhere near being hurt at the club."

Gareth initially got involved with guns in his early years after he was shown some air pistols by two of his friends.

"It was a case of going home and saying 'I want one' to my parents but to be honest it wasn't out of the norm then.

"In the boy scouts and the cubs, air pistols were used.

"In that day and age there weren't the restrictions and we were just messing about really."

Gareth then 'had a family' which meant his hobby went on the back burner.

His wife Norma had three children Stuart, Gordon and Elaine. His hobby then transferred to motorcycles until 'I got too old to ride them.'

"Then I retired and, about six years ago, my friend and I got chatting about guns and I had a look at the ones he had. It made mine look like they belonged to the Boar War!

"That's when I got involved again. I joined Blackburn Rifle and Pistol Club, bought a few guns and now compete regularly."

Gareth says that in a normal competition, he will shoot around 30 rounds -- ten at one target from 25 yards, then ten from 35 yards and then 10 from 50 yards and so on.

"I usually hit around 294 out of 300 but my record is 296. I would love to beat that but my eye-sight is going a bit now!

"I do love winning and I'm surprised how many trophies I have won."

Gareth says the most he has paid for a gun is around £500.

"That is cheap, people pay thousands for them. Mine date back years. I have a Cowboy Marlin -- 'a John Wayne type gun' and a Black powder revolver -- like the one Jesse James used.

"I also go down to Altcar in Southport which is a military base and use the old guns there-- I tend to try out the old World War Two rifles. They are unbelievable. I don't know how they ever used some of them!"

And, as pleasure, he also gets involved with clay pigeon shooting.

"It's totally different to target shooting. That's outdoor stuff. I enjoy that but I prefer the indoor target shooting.

"I do find it very satisfying. And, more importantly, is very safe and that is something I am keen to stress."