GUN crime in West Merica has shot up by over 200 per cent in the past decade, figures have revealed.

The number of offences involving firearms in the West Mercia Police force area has risen from 38 in 1998/9 to 124 in 2007/08.

The 226 per cent rise means West Merica has seen the eighth highest rise in the number of gun crimes when comparing all police forces in England and Wales.

The statistics, released by the Conservative Party, showed Lancashire Constabulary saw the biggest single rise, with the number of firearm offences increasing by 600 per cent.

A spokeswoman from West Mercia Police said the claims were "misleading" because of changes in recording practices.

Revisions were made to the law in 2001 which extended the scope to include replica and imitation firearms.

The spokeswoman added: “Since 2001 the standards of crime recording have changed, leading to additional offences being recorded. For example the number of firearm offences which excluded air weapons was 151 in 2004/5 and 115 in 2005/6 - a reduction of 36.

"Gun crime as a percentage of total crime is very low and incidents of gun crime across the force area are thankfully very rare."

The statistics showed every single region of England and Wales experienced an increase in gun crime between 1998/9 and 2007/8.

There were 9,865 offences recorded in 2007/8, up from 5,209 in 1998/9.