AN MP campaigning for a ban on replica guns has welcomed signals that the government could be poised to act.

Bournemouth East Con-servative David Atkinson hopes Labour will also propose banning potentially lethal "soft" firearms such as BB guns.

Mr Atkinson has attempted to introduce parliamentary bills on the subject but seen them defeated for lack of government support.

The government is re-viewing gun laws after the shootings in Birmingham of Charlene Ellis, 18, and her cousin Latisha Shake-spear, 17. It is to rush through legislation imposing five-year prison sentences for anyone carrying a gun illegally. Home Office minister John Denham has said the government would also consider its policy on replica guns, especially those that could be adapted to fire live ammunition.

Mr Atkinson said: "It would seem that the government is now tackling the problem head-on for the first time, which is what I had urged it to do last year."

Ministers had previously cited the problems of drafting a ban which would exclude innocent replicas such as toys or prop guns in the theatre.

"The reason why successive governments have not responded to the problem posed by air guns and so-called 'soft guns' like BB guns and replica guns is because it's such a complicated issue. But it seems the government is now intent on discussing it and I welcome that and look forward to seeing how it proposes to address it," the MP said. "The government has to address this particular problem to make certain toy guns are clearly toy guns and cannot be misinterpreted by a member of the public who reports a real gun being used to the police."

Home secretary David Blunkett is to hold a summit on gun crime later this week, with community leaders, customs and immigration officials and the Crown Prosecution Service.