Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has called for an investigation into a jump in the number of children hospitalised after gun accidents.

Parliamentary Questions lodged by Mr. Brown revealed that 13 children under 16 were admitted to hospital after accidentally discharging a firearm in 2009/2010.

This is over double the number admitted in 2008/09.

Other attacks which hospitalised children included 62 assaults with sharp objects, and 22 assaults with blunt objects in 2009/2010, although both figures were down on the previous year.

Robert Brown said:

"In 2009/10, 13 children ended up in hospital after accidentally discharging a firearm.

"The UK has some of the strictest gun laws in the world. Children should not be hospitalised as a result of gun accidents.

"The number of children admitted to hospital after gun accidents has more than doubled since 2008/09. The Scottish Government needs to investigate this so we can bring these numbers back down.

"Children should not be able to get their hands on legally owned firearms - they should be locked away. The Government and Local Councils must do their best to get this message out and take strict action if people disobey the conditions of their licence."