Police who patrol Oxford’s Blackbird Leys estate say they are frustrated they cannot stop youths buying toy pellet guns.

At a Blackbird Leys Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors raised the issue of young people purchasing BB (ball bearing) or pellet guns, as they feared the low-powered toys could potentially hurt someone.

They said the toy plastic guns which fire plastic pellets were on sale at the car boot sales held on Sundays at the Kassam Stadium’ car park.

But Sgt Rob Axe, of the Leys neighbourhood police team said there was nothing his officers could do. Speaking at the meeting, he said: “ These guns are toys, they have orange ends on them, or red handles, and so they are not illegal.

“We have identified who is selling them and we will keep an eye on this. But at the moment, what they’re doing isn’t illegal.”

Under UK law, it is illegal to sell an imitation firearm to under-18s. Toy guns are also required to be distinguishable from real guns – so they must be made of transparent materials or be brightly-coloured.

Speaking after the meeting, Sgt Axe said: “This was brought to our attention when a young guy was shot with a pellet from BB gun a few months ago. These are not air rifles, they’re far less powerful and are technically toys, so it doesn’t appear there’s anything we can do about it.”

“It’s quite frustrating, I think some of these guns could take someone’s eye out.”