Children aged 10 caught with guns

Children as young as 10 in the West Midlands could be walking the streets armed with stolen guns, shocking figures today revealed.

A total of nine 10 to 17-year-olds were convicted of possessing or distributing illegal weapons or ammunition in the region in 2006.

A further 69 adults were found guilty of the offence, according to the data released by justice minister Maria Eagle.

Separate Home Office statistics reveal West Midlands Police recorded five shotguns and two rifles stolen in 2006/07.

Nine people aged 18 and over were found guilty of carrying or distributing banned weapons or ammunition in Staffordshire, and 11 across the West Mercia Police force area, which covers Shropshire.

The total for England and Wales was 86 youngsters and 991 adults, with the number of firearms thefts up by almost a fifth from 500 in 2005/06 to 595 in 2006/07.

Five shotguns, 25 rifles and four handguns were reported stolen across Staffordshire, while West Mercia Police recorded 13 shotguns, 11 rifles and one handgun missing.

Bridgnorth Tory MP Philip Dunne said: "These numbers show just how important it is to secure convictions for those found with illegal weapons."