A POLICEMAN has thrown his support behind a campaign to change airgun laws after being sickened by the number of animals left for dead by snipers.

Bolton police wildlife liaison officer, Sgt Jim Nisbet, has joined the Bolton Evening News in supporting MP Jonathan Shaw's drive to raise the age at which airguns can be used from 14 to 17.

The campaign, backed by Bolton MP Brian Iddon, also aims to prohibit the use among 17-year-olds unless supervised by a person over 21.

Sgt Nisbet says he has seen so many animals hurt by thugs using the guns that he said he would like to see the campaign go further.

"I would prefer a full ban to be made on airguns because there have been so many incidents of wildlife being shot.

"But I agree with any such legislation. If people want to shoot, they should be able to justify what they use their airgun for with a licence. And if they go outside the law, they should be banned from using one."

He added: "Jonathan Shaw's bill is absolutely right, but I think we need to go that little bit further."

Mr Shaw, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, began his campaign with a parliamentary Bill he sponsored. This failed and he has now tabled an Early Day Motion calling for a change in the minimum age for airgun use.

As well as many people being injured by thugs using airguns, there have been several reports of wildlife being shot and left to die.

In June, two Canada geese by youngsters, were shot by someone with an airgun in Horwich.

Tim Melling, conservation officer for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the North-west, said he supported the campaign to raise the age at which airguns can be used.

The RSPCA is also backing the bid to change the law. It claims that pets and wildlife in Bolton could be saved from a slow agonising death if the changes were made.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "Airgun abuse causes untold suffering to hundreds of animals every year. The RSPCA dealt with 800 separate incidents of airgun abuse in the past year -- and that is just the tip of the iceberg."

OPPOSITION to changing airgun laws has come from groups who feel there is legislation already in place to protect wildlife, people and property.

No-one under 17 can actually buy or hire an airgun at present.

Ian Kirby, owner of the specialist gun shop Target Sports, on Halliwell Road, Bolton, said: "I think Jonathan Shaw has got it all wrong. There are rules and regulations in place and a sensible gun shop should abide by these.

"Incidents that have been reported in newspapers involving children have occurred because they have not been supervised correctly."

A spokesman for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, said Mr Shaw's proposals were "ill-founded" and "scaremongering by the anti-gun lobby". He added: "The scattered reports of airgun abuse represent a failure to enforce the existing law."

"People who misuse them already face prosecution under at least eight separate pieces of legislation, including the UK Firearms Acts which contain some of the strictest gun control laws in the world.

"The group feels that removing the right of young people to use airguns will lead to a decline in safety standards as they will be unable to receive proper training in safe and legal use."

What do you think about changing the law on the use of airguns? Write to Alison Barton at the Bolton Evening News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE. We will forward letters to MP Jonathan Shaw.