A HAMPSHIRE mum has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of "BB" guns after her daughter was shot in the face.

Beverley Thorne wants an age limit applied to people buying the guns, which fire ball bearings.

Her traumatised daughter Natalie, 15, suffered severe facial injuries as a result of an incident earlier this month, as reported in the Daily Echo.

She is due to undergo extensive dental treatment costing more than £1,000 on Monday to repair two shattered teeth.

Mrs Thorne, of Home Farm Close, Hythe, is hoping her Kids Against Guns campaign will reduce the risk of someone else getting injured.

"Now that I have got over the initial shock, I feel angry that these toys are so easily accessible," she said. "There is not enough control. They should only be sold by licensed retailers and people should have to be 18 to buy them."

Mrs Thorne is planning to distribute her petitions to local shops and other outlets.

BB guns are used for target practice but are often marketed as toys and designed to look like imitation

pistols. There is currently no law which states how old somebody has to be to buy a BB gun.

Shops often use their own discretion, while most Internet sites perform security checks to make sure the buyer is at least 17.

Natalie, a pupil at Noadswood School in Dibden Purlieu, was playing with friends at the naval sports field in Hythe when she was shot.

A 16-year-old boy from Hythe, who did not own the gun, thought it was unloaded and fired at her.

Police issued him with a final warning after both parties agreed it was an accident.

Mrs Thorne is concerned that BB guns are becoming increasingly popular among teenagers and wants to encourage schools to educate youngsters about their dangers.

David Kenyon, regional officer for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, attended the campaign launch. He said: "I am here to support Beverley in the sense that, while we wish there to be no restriction on legal use of legal firearms, we support any measures to reduce criminal use of firearms or air weapons."

To support the campaign, call Mrs Thorne at work on 023 8081 4905 or at home on 023 8087 9345.