TEENAGERS caught playing with air rifles have sparked a police safety warning to parents and youngsters in a bid to keep the public safe.

Officers in Spennymoor, County Durham, are urging people to look up rules over air weapons in response to a handful of incidents.

In the last two months there have been a number of occasions where police have spotted youngsters aged between 14 and 17 who were carrying air rifles in areas around the town.

PC Paul Colman said he believed the teens were using the rifles for target practice but warned of the potential dangers to public safety.

"On routine patrols there have been youngsters stopped in secluded areas," said PC Colman. "There has been no violence or aggravated factors but there has been a blip where we have come across the youngsters.

"We just want to get the message out there to parents to check the legislation - just to ensure the safety element and so we're not setting them up for a fail."

The four youths were caught in isolated areas including on the old railway lines towards Byers Green and in woodlands in Tudhoe.

They will now be subject to education and guidance from the youth offending team.

Their weapons, which were described as standard air rifles available from sporting goods stores, were also seized by police until they were picked up by a responsible adult.

PC Colman said the team in Spennymoor wanted to discourage youngsters or parents from buying the weapons.

He also hopes to point prospective buyers towards the regulations as outlined by the Government in order to to prevent any incidents.

"It's not like we have had a marauding bunch of youths with air weapons," added PC Colman. "If we can educate people we can avoid them getting into trouble."

It comes just one week after officers in Crook issued an appeal to track down a teenager who was believed to be carrying an air rifle and shooting birds.

The young male was seen with two others walking and cycling along Arthur Street between 12pm and 12.20pm on Thursday, May 18.

Durham Police has confirmed an 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and later cautioned for possessing a firearm in a public place.

For information and safety on air weapons visit www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117804/air-weapons-safety-leaflet.pdf