Police today warned parents whose children bought imitation guns at a traditional market to destroy the weapons.

The replica firearms, which have ball bearings for ammunition, were sold to youngsters at the May market at Beach Green, Lancing, on Monday.

Police later received a series of calls from residents worried about teenagers firing the guns at passers-by.

Several people were hit by pellets from the weapons but nobody was seriously hurt.

Sergeant Ian Cooke, of Adur police, said they received at least six calls which were all treated as possible firearms incidents.

He said: "They are graded as potential firearms incidents until we are satisfied that real weapons are not involved.

"Because of that, there is a real possibility that a person could be shot and fatally injured if they were foolish enough to point it at armed officers.

"The bottom line is that these youngsters could end up getting shot and nobody wants that to happen."

Trading standards officers were also at the market and confiscated a large number of bootleg CDs and fake designer clothing.