ARMED officers swooped on a York car park to deal with a man apparently brandishing a pistol.

Police today said the stupidity of the man, who sparked the operation when he was seen waving the gun at a CCTV camera, could have ended in disaster.

It was only when police cornered the man and a companion in the St George's Field car park that they discovered the 'pistol' was a ball bearing gun.

Inspector Alex Brandom said the incident began in the Askham Bar Park&Ride car park, off Tadcaster Road, when the man's antics were spotted on CCTV at around 8.45pm.

The men then got into a vehicle and drove away, but were later picked up by another camera in the St George's Field car park near the city centre.

Insp Brandom said armed officers who went to the car park detained two local men, and following a search recovered a silver-coloured plastic BB, or ball bearing gun.

Police were unable to say today whether the men had been arrested or released after they were initially stopped by the armed officers.

Insp Brandom added: "Yet again North Yorkshire Police have had to deploy armed officers to deal with a situation involving a BB gun, and the reckless actions of certain individuals - actions which ultimately could have devastating consequences."

York's top policeman, Chief Superintendent John Lacy, said: "This is blatant stupid irresponsibility. People may think this is a joke but it causes a great deal of inconvenience."

The North Yorkshire force's assistant chief constable Peter Bagshaw has previously warned "a tragedy" could result from the increased popularity of BB guns.

He has called for tighter legislation on the guns, fearing his armed officers could shoot someone as a result of their irresponsible use.

He said 40 calls were made to North Yorkshire Police in just one month by members of the public who spotted what they believed were firearms - but in each case the weapon was a BB gun.

Out of 17 incidents when he authorised officers to arm in that month, half of the occasions were for the use of BB guns.

Mr Bagshaw said: "Clearly when officers are responding to this kind of threat there is a real danger to all concerned, particularly to those with the weapon.

"My officers are trained to eradicate any threat to life, the public's or their own, and basically they would shoot, then it makes no difference if the weapon was real or a replica.

"Thank God we have not had that in North Yorkshire, so I am making this appeal to be more responsible with these weapons, so we do not reach that point."

Updated: 15:57 Friday, October 24, 2003