A senior Conservative MP has claimed that children who live in the countryside should be taught to handle guns.

Patrick Mercer, the Tory spokesman on "homeland security", told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that children in rural areas should be taught to use non-lethal weapons such as air rifles to learn “respect” for firearms.

Dee Warner, from Mothers Against Murder and Aggression, called for his dismissal.

"I just find his comments appalling. It shows how out of touch he is with what is happening on our streets. Teaching children to use firearms is completely misguided," she said.