BB gun found in child's bag at Wolverhampton school

West Midlands Police spoke to the child and their parents after confiscating the realistic looking weapon.

The official twitter account for West Midlands Police in Bushbury, Oxley, Low Hill and Fallings Park tweeted the image yesterday.

They tweeted: "Officers have seized a children's plastic BB gun after it was taken from a pupil bag. Child and parents spoken to! #CouldYouTellTheDifference."

In July, West Midlands Police warned of the dangers of carrying replica guns in public after a spate of scares sparked by fake firearms.

Armed police had been called to more than 80 incidents where 999 alerts have proved to be false alarms as a result of people spotted with ball bearing guns or similar air-powered weapons in public.

Detective Inspector Jim Colclough said it's important to raise awareness ahead of a predicted summer spike of replica gun-related emergency calls.

He said: "Some of these air weapons are very realistic, it's difficult to tell them apart from the real thing.

"We always want people to report their concerns to us; the last thing we want is a blasé attitude and someone assuming it's probably a BB gun.

"Our armed officers always have to treat call-outs seriously, they can't let their guard down and would treat the incident as a genuine threat until it becomes apparent they aren't dealing with a live firearm.

"We're reaching out to parents, teenagers and schools to hammer home the message that anyone carrying or using a BB gun in public could quickly find themselves at the centre of an armed response by firearms officers."

Between April 1 and July 17, West Midlands Police received 81 emergency calls from worried members of the public reporting seeing people with guns that later transpired to be BB guns or air weapons.

PC Rob Pedley MBE, said: "BB guns can be bought legally over-18s ? but it can lead to numerous offences if they're taken out in public which can lead to a conviction and criminal record for life.

"Our presentation will reach around 1,400 pupils throughout the last week of term and over the summer in schools and youth community programmes.

"We aim to highlight the reality of carrying BB or airsoft guns and show how difficult it can be for armed officers to identify often in a fraction of a second whether or not it is a real or replica firearm."

To report suspicions of firearm possession call West Midlands Police on the 101 number or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.