A YOUNG girl was injured when she was shot with a pellet gun in a York shopping square.

It was one of a number of incidents in the past few days which have triggered calls to police from members of the public anxious about the guns.

York police today issued a stern warning that shooting people with the pellet guns - which look like 9mm handguns - is classified as assault and could result in serious injury.

They fear a future incident could spark a situation where the force's armed response team is called out.

They are now trying to get the guns, which are sold as toys, removed from sale while the legal position is clarified.

The incident happened at about 12.30pm yesterday outside Fenwicks in St Mary's Square, Coppergate.

Acting Sergeant David McDowell said a nine-year-old girl, from Knaresborough, who was with her mother, was shot in the arm at close range with the plastic pellet.

Although she was not badly injured, the shot was painful.

Police were called and managed to confiscate two of the weapons from youths, but others ran away.

Two of the guns were seized but no arrests were made.

Acting Sgt McDowell said: "The position on these guns is unclear at the moment because they are being marketed as toys, but they look like genuine firearms.

"We have instructed the shop not to sell them until the legal position is clarified."

And he urged youngsters to keep the guns at home.

"You really could put someone's eye out with one of these things," he said.

"And be cautious how and where you use it - there could be a situation where the armed response vehicle becomes involved."