FEARS that defenceless animals could become the targets of children with BB airguns have sparked a campaign to rid them from Skipton's shops.

A spokesman from the Skipton branch of the Royal Society for Prevention for Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said: "These air guns cause damage and suffering on a large scale. About 10,000 cats are shot and maimed every year as well as thousands of wild animals and approximately 1,500 people.

"These are the reported incidents but there are thousands which go unreported."

She added her concerns for local animals arose when she saw a stock of the BB guns on prominent display in the window of the Major Value Store on Swadford Street.

But shop manager Hazel Mellor explained that the BB guns fired plastic pellets and were not the same as air rifles. She said that Health and Safety had inspected the guns to ensure they were safe for children to play with.

She added that the pellets could not hurt an animal - the most it could do was scare it.

The RSPCA spokesman did not want to be named for fear of repercussions being taken out on her animals.

She said that in her experience: "Most of the damage is caused (to animals) during the school holidays and I notice that the stock of air guns, especially the large Blaster guns, has very much diminished since the school holidays started.

"It is not illegal to sell air guns but in a town such as Skipton with the canal and its abundant wildlife and beautiful surroundings it is highly irresponsible."

On the boxes of the different types of the BB guns, which fire small plastic pellets, it clearly states that they should only be used by children over the age of 14. They are on sale in Skipton for as little as £1.99, and going up to £5.99.\

Mrs Mellor said staff would not sell the BB guns to children under 14, which is a recommended age for use but not law. However if parents wanted to buy them for their children she could not stop them.

PC Neil Hargreaves said that if one of the plastic pellets caught an animal or a person in or near the eye it would hurt.

He added that police were on the lookout for youngsters misusing the guns and last week had confiscated two from youths firing the pellets at windows.

PC Hargreaves said it was possible to buy air guns from gun shops, which fired steel pellets, and if these caught someone in the eye would blind them.

The RSPCA wrote to Craven District Council and to Major Value Stores some time ago about the issue.

Philip Hewison, from the council, stated: "Although I appreciate your concerns regarding the sale of toy guns, I am unable to take action to try to persuade the manager to cease selling these products."

RSPCA chief inspector Alan James said: "Our national figures show that illegal air gun shootings of wildlife and domestic animals have increased by 200 per cent in the past three years."

He said the most common victims were swans.