TORY MPs who voted against banning privately-held hand guns spoke for no-one but themselves, says Pendle MP Gordon Prentice.

He condemned a leaked Parliamentary select committee report which said a ban would serve no practical purpose.

The recommendation scraped through by a single vote, with six Conservatives voting against the ban and five Labour members backing it.

"There is no conceivable reason why anyone should need to keep a gun at home," said the MP.

"Those required for sport should be kept under lock and key at licensed gun clubs."

Mr Prentice said he met parents of the children massacred at Dunblane when they presented a petition at Westminster.

"I hardly knew what to say. Their lives have been devastated by the actions of a crazed gun fanatic."

Mr Prentice said he awaited the outcome of the official inquiry into gun ownership by Lord Cullen but added: "So far I have seen no evidence which would persuade me not to vote for the banning of hand guns kept at home."

Earlier this year the MP called for a tightening of gun control "including psychological testing if needs be."

He added that he also wanted to see the House of Commons gun club closed down and the space given over to a creche."

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