A warning has been issued that children playing with BB guns could trigger an armed police response.

Police were alerted just before 10.50pm on Wednesday after reports a man had been hit in the back of his head by a BB gun pellet in Sea Road, Littlehampton.

The victim, who suffered minor injuries, said he believed a group of four or five youths had used a BB gun to fire the pellet.

Officers searched the area and were unable to trace the youths.

Chief Inspector Jane Derrick, district commander of Arun district, said: "BB or similar spring-loaded weapons are manufactured in such a way that it is sometimes difficult for the officers to tell them apart from the real thing without close examination. This means that anyone carrying or using one of these weapons in public could easily find themselves confronted by armed police officers.

"Anyone carrying a loaded BB gun in a public place could find themselves being arrested and could be subject to a fine or £5,000, six months' imprisonment or both. BB guns must not be carried on show or be used in public."

Anyone with information should contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 246 of 21/7.