An evening newspaper editor has called for a ban on the sale of samurai swords after a teenager was jailed for killing a 31-year-old dad with the deadly weapon.

Middlesbrough Evening Gazette editor Steve Dyson called for a change in the law following the trial of the teenager who stabbed Robert Dunne to death with a 12-inch replica sword.

At the Teesside Crown Court trial Judge Peter Fox said he was concerned at the availability of such weapons and said he saw no justification for their sale.

Editor Steve said: "The type of samurai sword which was used to kill Middlesbrough scaffolder Robert Dunne is still easily bought on Teesside today.

"There is nothing to stop anyone walking into a store here, or indeed anywhere else across the country, to buy the potentially lethal weapons over the counter.

"These swords might well be thought of as replicas of the weapons used by the legendary samurai warriors - but there is no pretence about their potential."

And to demonstrate just how easy it is to buy the weapons, the newspaper sent a reporter to a shop close to its offices where they were able to buy a set of three samurai swords for £85.

Steve said: "Surely, if people want to decorate their homes with images of Oriental weaponry then they should do what has been done for years with the likes of old-fashioned flintlock pistols... and hang true replica swords on the walls which are hollow or made from less solid material.

"There's a separate argument about the dangers even of harmless weapons being used in an intimidating way, but these swords go far beyond pretence. If people want this kind of reality then the question that must be asked is 'Why?'

"These weapons have no place in our society, and we fully support Judge Peter Fox's concern about their sale.

"They should be banned.

"And a change in law to ban them should be introduced as speedily as possible before we face more bloodshed."