Fake guns stolen in shop raid

Raiders stole more than 20 imitation ball-bearing guns from a shop in Cannock.

It is thought around 22 imitation items were taken from the walls of the store and were worth a total of up to £10,000.

Bosses of 6 Mil Limited stressed the replica guns could not be converted into actual ball-bearing guns.

The items are intended for use in airsoft, a sport similar to paintballing in which the guns shoot plastic pellets.

Most were removed from wall displays and bosses have been busy cleaning up this morning to ensure the shop could be open for business as usual.

The shop, formerly called Airsoft Armoury, was broken into at around 8.20pm yesterday and three people were seen loading a car before heading towards Cross Street.

One was wearing a white baseball cap and one was wearing a white jacket. It is thought the car could have been an estate vehicle.

They had kicked a door in to get into the shop on Exchange Industrial Estate, off the A5 in Bridgtown.

Phillip Corns, one of the store's owners, said it was the first time the shop had been broken into after three years in the town.

Mr Corns said: "There is a slim chance they will be used for illegal purposes but I think it is more likely they will be sold back into the airsoft community."