POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a number of reports of a man or men in Gateshead with what appeared to be a handgun last night.

The reports were received between 8.40pm and 10.30pm from areas in High Street, in Felling, near Gateshead Stadium and Gretna Terrace.

"The first incident was a report that a male had gone into a takeaway on Balmoral Drive with what was believed to be a handgun," a police spokesman said. "A short time later at 9pm police received a report of two men in High Street, Felling with a weapon, again believed to have been a handgun.

"At 9.15pm police received a report of 15-year-old boy being hit in the face by a pellet of a BB gun near Gateshead stadium. His injuries were not serious."

At 10.10pm a taxi driver report his car had been damaged by an airgun pellet and at 10.25pm a report was received from a bus driver that pellets had been fired at his bus in Gretna Terrace.

DCI Mark Warcup, of Gateshead Area Command, said: "We believe that all of these incidents are linked and would like to reassure the community that an air pistol has been recovered and two people arrested.

"We'd also ask for the public's support and ask anyone who may have been in any of these areas last night and seen anything to contact police."

Two men aged 18 and 21 have been arrested.

Anyone with any information should contact Northumbria Police on 03456 043 043 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.