Children as young as eight and nine are packing fake guns in their schoolbags.

Chief Insp Simon Atkin, of Keighley police, revealed that the police had major concerns because of the realism of the guns.

He said: "There are children as young as eight and nine turning up at schools throughout the Keighley area with these guns."

"The children are playing a dangerous game. With the dark nights beginning to roll in it becomes increasing difficult to determine a person's age or identity. If they are reported to the police for carrying what someone thinks is a real gun we will be calling our firearms response unit out."

He spoke out after the alarm was raised by Christine Clarke, head teacher of St Andrew's Primary School, Lustre Street, Keighley.

A worried parent had brought one of the "toy weapons" into school to show her just how authentic they were. Some of them have a laser sight and shoot plastic pellets.

Mrs Clark said she was worried that children playing with them in the streets and parks could hurt themselves or others.

She was especially concerned about vulnerable people like the elderly who could be unduly frightened by the toys.

Scooby Bargains, in Cavendish Street, Keighley, sell a range of BB (ball bearing) guns and cap guns. An employee at the store said there was a range of different age restrictions, decided upon by trading standards, on each individual gun and that they did not sell them to those below the age stated on the packaging.

He added: "I know for a fact that a number of parents come in to buy the guns for their kids as young as ten years old.

"We can't really do anything about that except advise them that they are not for kids and shouldn't be played with on the streets."

Mrs Clark said: "We have explained to some of our parents just how dangerous the guns are, and have shown how the plastic bullets can ricochet off walls and hurt someone without intentionally wishing this to happen. I would ask parents not to allow their children to buy these guns, and certainly not allow them in the house or schools," she said.

Det Insp Shaun Berry, of Keighley police, said there were no laws against selling the guns or possessing them, but there were strict laws against using the fake firearms in public places in a threatening manner or in an act of a criminal offence.