A youth was pictured wielding this realistic-looking gun just minutes after shots were fired at pedestrians in Bradford city centre yesterday.

The Telegraph & Argus confronted the boy and his pal in a passageway next to the NCP car park in Hall Ings after at least two people were hit by pellets.

Passers-by were targeted with pellet-gun fire from the bridge crossing Hall Ings between the car park and Norfolk Gardens.

At least two members of the public were hit with pellets before the youths, who are believed to have been around 12-13 years of age, were confronted and fled the scene before police arrived. No-one is believed to have been injured in the incident.

One woman who was fired at said: "I was walking towards the car park to get my car when I felt something hit my handbag. It was quite a shocking experience. Your first reaction is one of fear.

"If it had hit me in the eye it could have done serious damage. I looked up and saw the youth with the gun laughing and then he started firing again. He hit a man walking past who jumped when he was hit but didn't seem to know what had happened. They ducked down and he didn't see them. Someone could have been badly hurt."

The incident sparked immediate demands for action to ban these potentially-lethal weapons.

Bradford North MP Terry Rooney, who was himself shot in the head with an airgun as he left his London home in 2002, said such weapons should be removed from the streets: "This is plain stupidity on the part of those who carried out this idiotic attack.

"By the sounds of things it was only by sheer luck that someone wasn't badly injured. I would urge police to confiscate these weapons on sight and would call for those shops which sell them to remove them from sale immediately, before someone is seriously hurt."

Councillor Martin Smith, Bradford Council's community safety portfolio holder said: "It makes you wonder what goes through the minds of these people. This is a disturbing incident and I am sure the police will put every effort into finding the culprits.

"It is distressing that this kind of thing is happening, and we do not want to see this occurring.

"I would urge anyone who sees someone with one of these supposedly toy-type guns to report them.

"If one of these pellets had hit someone in the face or eye it could have had very serious consequences."

The law prohibits the sale of pellet guns to anyone under the age of 17, but yesterday's incident demonstrates such weapons do find their way into the hands of people much younger.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "The use of any kind of imitation weapon in this manner is extremely irresponsible and could have caused danger to road users and distress to passers-by.

"West Yorkshire Police condemns the actions of these youngsters and is continuing inquiries.

"Officers are looking to speak to two white males, both aged around 12 years of age. One was wearing a baseball cap and carrying a small pellet gun. Anyone who has information should contact Bradford South Police on 0845 6060606."