THE Northern Echo apologised yesterday after an advertisement for air guns was inadvertently published.

The paper, which has been a consistent campaigner against handguns, has launched an internal investigation into how the advertisement appeared.

A decision had been taken by senior managers that the advertisement - placed by a shop in Darlington - was inappropriate and should not be published.

However, due to an error, the advertisement was published.

Ashok Kumar, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, issued a statement criticising the advertisement.

He was joined by David McLuckie, one of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's representatives on the Cleveland Police Authority.

The advertisement featured "air soft guns - highly detailed replicas firing plastic 60mm 3b pellets - ranging in price from £2.50 to £85".

It stipulated that they must not be sold to anyone under the age of 18.

Mr Kumar said: "I am opposed to the further proliferation of air guns in any case, but this advert enters a new dimension with air pistols which are faithful replicas of handguns, weapons that I fear might be used in violent crime."

The MP said he would be bringing the advertisement to the attention of the Home Office and Councillor McLuckie called for a ban on such advertisements.

Peter Barron, Editor of The Northern Echo, said yesterday: "We fully recognise that this was a very serious error. A decision had been made by the company that the advertisement should not be published but somehow it still appeared.

"Internal inquiries are under way and disciplinary proceedings may take place.

"The Northern Echo has been a consistent campaigner against hand guns of all kinds and we apologise for what has happened."