PLAINLY, while we have vindictive, cowardly idiots roaming our streets, air rifles need to be regarded as much of a dangerous weapon as an ordinary gun or rifle.

OK, they are air-powered and the pellets are made of a lead alloy, but over the past few weeks the pages of this newspaper have been a regular horror story, showing how animals can and have been terribly injured.

Any idiot can stand hidden yards away and pull a trigger and create such hurt and pain. But let’s see you out there face to face with the animals’ owner - how brave will you be then! One day, it will go wrong, and a ricochet will cause a child or adult to be injured or killed.

ALAN BURRIDGE, Blandford Road, Upton