Armed police were scrambled yesterday following reports of a gang of youths chasing another group and firing shots at them in Nuneaton.

They were called into action at 2.45pm after someone spotted the two groups in Hill Top woods towards Poyser Road.

Warwickshire police’s armoured response unit was summoned because one of the youths was armed and was shooting at people.

Officers managed to track four gang members on the canal path going towards Gipsy Lane.

They confiscated an air weapon and took its 15-year-old owner back to his parents. He has been severely reprimanded and has also been reported for air weapon offences.

No-one was hurt in the incident, but police say it serves to show how dangerous guns of any kind can be.

Armed officers are being called out more frequently to these types of offences in the county. They have to attend each incident because of the potential danger to the public.

A police spokeswoman said parents needed to be reminded of the rules surrounding air weapons:

• children under the age of 14 cannot buy, hire or be given air weapons or ammunition, and they can only use them if supervised by someone aged over 21
• teenagers aged between 14 and 17 can be given or lent the weapons, but cannot buy or hire them