ROGUE gun traders will be targeted by trading standards bosses, if councillors agree to give them new enforcement powers.

Selling replica firearms became an offence in October, and City of York Councillors are now being asked to take steps to enforce the law locally.

Under proposals to the authority's neighbourhood services panel, trading standards officials would be given the right to respond to complaints from the public, and take "proportionate and effective" action. But the new law does not allow officers to catch offenders by using test purchases.

Andrew Waller, the council's executive member for neighbourhood services, said: "Many replica firearms look so realistic and they are hard to distinguish from the real thing. It is important the council enforces new measures to comply with this legislation, so shop owners and their customers know what can and cannot be sold.

"Over recent years the council has started checks on the sales of knives, on top of alcohol, aerosols, and cigarettes to underage youths. I welcome the council preparing to take enforcement action on the sale of replica guns and working with the Home Office and Police Authority to achieve this.

"I hope these changes will help reduce the actual and perceived impact of violent and nuisance behaviour in York. However, I would feel more comfortable if the Government took more steps to stop the flow of guns into Britain with an integrated border force with police powers."

Ruth Potter, neighbourhood services spokesperson for the council's Labour opposition, said: "I am very pleased with the Labour Government's new legislation to bring the sale of replica guns under the jurisdiction of councils' trading standards function. However, I think that the legislation should go further and give councils the power to officially test purchase for the sale of imitation firearms to those under 18.

"The legislation states that replica guns should not be sold to people under the age of 18 but does not give councils the power to test purchase without the test purchaser committing an offence. The power to test purchase has been used very successfully over a number of years to control the sale of alcohol, aerosols and cigarettes."

She said she would campaign for the legislation to be amended.

Many ball-bearing guns, or air soft' guns, are replica guns that will now be illegal to buy. It is illegal to buy and sell all replica guns apart from those which are regarded as "unrealistic" - those which are less than 38mm x 70mm in diameter, or transparent or brightly coloured. Such imitations can be sold to people over 18.

The proposals will go before the neighbourhood services panel at 5pm on January 21, at Guildhall.

Residents who believe sales of replica guns are taking place should contact Trading Standards on 01904 551562.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "We fully support the measures taken to prevent replica firearms being circulated in the community.

"Replica guns and air weapons continue to be a problem for the police, their realistic appearance means that they are indistinguishable from real weapons and subsequently cause alarm, distress and sometimes injury to members of the public.

"All reports of firearms misuse are taken very seriously and result in a robust response. Anyone who is foolish enough to brandish them in public will find themselves confronted by police firearms officers - with real guns. The possible consequences of such an incident don't bear thinking about."