A GANG of youths has been endangering residents of Fernhurst with dangerous ball bearing guns.
Although the ball bearing (BB) guns are classified as toys, Sergeant Gordon Cross of West Sussex police told The Herald that they can be especially dangerous if fired at a personÕs eye or at a small child or animal.
In a special report to Fernhurst Parish Council, local beat officer Pc Kevin Etheridge told councillors how the gang of teenagers has been reported by concerned residents to the police Òon more than one occasionÓ.
Pc Etheridge said that during one of his visits to Fernhurst, he had spotted the youths on the roof of the villageÕs block of public toilets, getting ready to fire at their targets.
ÒWe apprehended the teenagers and told them that we will be paying home visits to their parents.
ÒHopefully they will take notice of the warning and their parents will intervene to stop the problem raising its head again,Ó Pc Etheridge said.
But councillor John Allen told the meeting that at a recent event at Fernhurst Recreation Ground, a member of his family had been hit on her face by a bearing fired from a BB gun.
ÒIt was a nasty shock and if it had hit her in the eye she could have ended up with a very nasty injury- if not blinded,Ó Mr Allen reported.
This incident, added Mr Allen, had not been reported to the police but had happened since the youths were caught on the roof of the toilets.
After the meeting, Sergeant Cross said that the toys are legal and owners do not need a licence.
Sergeant Cross warned: ÒOur advice is to encourage adult supervision at all times when the guns are being used. These guns can cause serious injuries to people or animals if used in an irresponsible manner, but we are not able to stop shopkeepers from selling the toys to young people.Ó
Anyone wishing to report a similar incident should contact the police on 0845 6070999 and ask to speak to an officer at Midhurst police station.