Residents of Hunwicke Road, Greenstead, Colchester, called the police when they saw a teenager waving a gun.

Unarmed officers attending the scene yesterday found a 17-year-old boy with a toy gun.

He was warned about the dangers of having a replica gun in public.

Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said: "These guns are very realistic and its hard to tell whether it's real or not.

"It can lead to an armed police unit being called out."

Published Friday October 18, 2002

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