THE grieving family of a six-year-old road crash victim spoke out today after police confiscated their shotguns.

The Crowders, of Barlby, near Selby, claimed it was like a scene from TV's Starsky And Hutch when officers "descended" on their homes in marked police cars and vans.

Police returned to Barlby to remove the licensed shotguns only a few hours after telling the family that no charges would be brought against the driver of the car which struck Joshua Crowder.

They seized eight shotguns from the cabinet of Joshua's grandfather, Derek, and one from the cabinet of Joshua's father, Stuart.

Derek, of Turnhead Crescent, Barlby, said: "We are all very upset and angry. To take away our guns after what we've been through is unbelievable.

"Police told us we would probably get them back when things had calmed down.

"It's ridiculous. We're both responsible permit holders, whose gun cabinets were locked, and we've made no threats against anyone, including the car driver involved in Josh's death.

"Like anyone else with a firearm we have to be thoroughly vetted and if we're involved in just verbal abuse we would stand to lose our guns.

"I've had my guns for nearly 30 years. This response from the police was heavy-handed and over the top."

Stuart's wife, Sarah, of Northfield, Barlby, said the police told her husband to hand over his 12-bore automatic and ammunition voluntarily or they would arrest him.

She said: "The village was crawling with police cars and vans looking for Stuart, who had gone to the fish shop.

"It was all so unreal, like something out of Starsky And Hutch. We're still in mourning and yet we're being made to feel like criminals.

"There's no point in retaliation, anyway, when we know that nothing will bring Josh back."

Mrs Crowder said the whole episode was so upsetting that her nine-year-old daughter Rebecca, was in tears.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the chief constable had a responsibility for public safety in relation to possession of firearms. In this case, the weapons had been seized to ensure public safety was maintained.

He said: "We would expect to be discussing the situation further with the two certificate holders in person at some time in the not too distant future."

Updated: 16:31 Thursday, April 11, 2002