A SCHOOL magazine has banned a Barry Island business owner from advertising using images of children holding laser guns.

Owner of Barry Island's Quasar laser tag centre, Mark Vockins, said he was angry at the "ridiculous" decision, saying it is clear from the photographs that the children are holding sci-fi style laser guns and not real weapons.

The Primary Times, a free magazine which circulates bi-monthly to more than 225 primary schools across Cardiff and the Vale, said that they chose to ban the advert in light of recent gun violence atrocities committed around the world.

The Primary Times editor said that the magazine had received three previous complaints about Mr Vockins advertisements.

Editor Marion McAdam defended the magazine’s stance, saying the decision was made following a complaint made by a parent.

She said: “He was concerned that the advert of children holding guns had appeared on our front cover a matter of weeks following the atrocities in Paris. He felt that we had been very insensitive.

"He claimed that had the Paris incidents occurred in London, or indeed Cardiff, we might perhaps have thought more carefully about running this advert on our front cover. This is untrue. To us, a life is a life regardless of its location.

"When Mr Vockins wanted to advertise again, we offered him the opportunity to appear within the magazine or to retain his position on the front cover without showing any guns, sadly Mr Vockins declined this opportunity.”

Mr Vockins said his business, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year and carries the slogan “serious fun with a laser gun”, said it was obvious that a real weapon wasn’t being used in the promotional shots.

“I think it’s ridiculous. You can see clearly it’s lasers," he said.

“They said you can have kids pointing out of their fingers or you can have them jumping for joy? I’m really angry.”

Primary Times editor Marion McAdam said the magazine clearly stated it doesn’t take any advertising which it considers to be offensive or harmful to the best interests of young children.

She said: “Our editorial team will continue to review every individual image on its own merits and we will endeavour to act in the interest of both readers and advertisers. We believe we cannot be any fairer.”