Gun owners would be able to renew their firearms licences from their mobile phones under plans being considered by Sussex Police.

The idea has outraged gun control campaigners in the aftermath of Derrick Bird’s deadly shooting spree in Cumbria earlier this month.

Police maintain the move would be no different from people applying on paper forms and checks will still be made in person by officers.

The plan to create mobile phone “apps” allowing people to apply to renew gun licences online is under discussion at a conference of police web managers being hosted by Sussex Police in Brighton next Friday.

Kian de Loach, head of multimedia and e-services at Sussex Police, said in the promotional material for the conference: "It is important to effectively engage with the communities we serve online alongside more traditional face-to-face methods.

“More and more people are looking to interact with public services online to communicate and get the information they need quickly and directly.”

Lyn Costello, of Mothers Against Murder and Aggression, told a newspaper: ''This isn't suitable especially in light of what happened in Cumbria. We've got to be extra careful giving gun licences.”

Gill Marshall-Andrews, of Gun Control Network, said: ''It is an extraordinarily silly idea.

''We have to look at how shootings can be avoided, release the secrecy behind who has licences and increase the amount of checks."

In response to the criticism, Sussex Police issued a statement saying: “There are no firm plans to put this method into place at this stage.

“If this model was to be adopted it would not replace officers visiting the applicant, it would just allow the applicant to submit their initial application online.

“Once an application has been received - either on paper or through an online method - officers would visit the applicant to assess their suitability for a licence renewal.”