A Hereford father, whose 10-year-old son was the target of a BB gun, has welcomed Government proposals to ban replica weapons.

Ian Clarke said the new bill addressing the sale and manufacture of imitation firearms was a fantastic and much-needed move.

The Putson dad understands the dangers of imitation guns more than most after his son was shot at while attending Our Lady's Primary School last year.

Mr Clarke, who claimed his son was lucky not to have been blinded after the ball bearing gun attack, said the Government had taken the common sense approach following the alarming rise in the use of replica guns.

"I am all in favour of any type of legislation that bans these imitation weapons," he said.

"They are too dangerous and too realistic, and put people's lives at risk - there is absolutely no need for them."

The incident at the city primary school was just one of a number involving replica guns to which Herefordshire police were called.

Last summer, the Hereford Times revealed how eight teenagers were arrested on imitation gun offences in three different parts of the city and in the market town of Ledbury.

On one occasion in St Martins Street, police time was wasted when armed officers pointed their guns towards a house following the sighting of an imitation firearm.

At the time Hereford Inspector Pete Gebbie pleaded for shops that sold the guns to think again and urged parents of teenagers to take responsibility and ensure their children were aware of the dangers.

Now, following the unveiling of proposals in the bill, the police have reiterated that replica guns can create problems.

A police spokesperson said: "West Mercia Constabulary treats every report of a person carrying a gun in public very seriously.

"Those who carry weapons of this kind put themselves in considerable danger as we must respond appropriately, and armed officers will be called to the scene.

"The best training in the world cannot equip a police officer with the necessary skills to identify a real weapon from a replica or air pistol in a split second. Often, this can only be achieved through close examination by a firearms expert."

Herefordshire Council's trading standard's department welcomed the proposed changes and looked forward to working with the police to enforce the new law.

Mike Pigrem, trading standards manager, said: "Whilst it is not clear at present as to whether all sorts of imitation firearms such as BB Guns are to be included in these new proposals, in the wider interests of public safety, Herefordshire Council's trading standards service would certainly welcome the strengthening of the law in this area.

"Any proposals to avoid the potential lethal consequences of the misuse of these weapons is to be commended and I am sure that Herefordshire Council will be working closely with the police to eliminate this problem when these proposals finally become law."