PARENTS are being warned to consider the safety of their children's toys after a spate of incidents involving toy guns.

The latest incident to be reported to Leigh police concerned a 12-year-old girl being shot in the back while riding her scooter.

Mellissa Wilkinson was playing outside her Harrow Crescent home at 10am on Tuesday, when she was fired at by three boys who were in a neighbouring yard.

The small plastic pellet from the Colt Double Eagle Series 90 gun left Mellissa with a bruise, but according to police, could have been a lot worse.

PC Andrew Scott said: "These guns are powerful and pretty dangerous toys. They could take out someone's eye."

The semi-automatic replica handguns are on sale in most toy shops, priced at £15, with pellets cheaply and readily available.

Mellissa's mum, Jennifer Phoenix, said: "This is the third similar incident in our area. The guns have been used to fire at windows and to damage properties. Parents need to be more aware of what their children are playing with, before someone gets seriously hurt."

Police are warning that anyone found misusing the toys will be apprehended and the guns will be confiscated.