A BUSINESS in Derby city centre which sells imitation guns for shooting games was the target of an early-morning raid - while paranormal investigators were examining the building.

Jonathan Craft, the owner of Crafty's Airsoft Store, in Full Street, said the ghostbusters had been invited in to investigate spooky goings-on at the building, including odd noises.

But, during their session at the business, he said the team from Derby Paranormal Group went downstairs after hearing noises and found two men raiding the premises.

The thieves fled after being discovered but took several items with them.

Mr Craft, 33, said some of the stolen goods were recovered in locations around the premises after the burglars used pushbikes to get away but he reckoned five to six imitation guns were still outstanding.

He said: "The thieves were very brave to do what they did because the paranormal group were clearly in there, turning the lights on and off and things like that.

"They used a tomahawk to break in through the fire doors and then went for some of the guns on the wall as well as in the drawers.

"Some of the stolen guns were found outside, including near the bins behind the bikeworks, along with the tomahawk - which hopefully police can get some evidence off.

"But these guys do need to be found because those replicas are very convincing and most people would not be able to tell the difference between them and a real one."

Police confirmed the incident was reported to them through a 999 call at about 4.15am.

They said any witnesses to the incident should come forward.

Mr Craft has run Crafty's Airsoft Store - set up for keen players of the shooting game Airsoft - for two years and who moved from Abbey Street to Full Street in September last year.

He said: "We've had burglar alarms go off in the past but not an actual break-in like this.

"The hit on the doors seems very precise so it seems like they knew what they were doing. The damage is not too bad though, mainly the doors and the till."

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to call police on 101.