Two teenagers who terrorised the streets of Lincoln with an imitation gun have been told they could face custody.

The 16-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, shot at people and property in the city and in Newark with a 'baby desert eagle' air pistol.

They appeared at a youth hearing at Lincoln Magistrates' Court yesterday.

They had already pleaded guilty to two counts of actual bodily harm, two counts of common assault, six counts of criminal damage and being in possession of an imitation firearm, on Wednesday.

Edward Johnson prosecuting, described how Christopher Patterson, 19, of Birchwood Avenue, drove around with the youngsters. They fired at four people, windows, a car and a bus on their spree in November last year.

"Police started receiving calls from numerous members of the public that there were a number of males in a car driving around Lincoln firing some sort of gun out of the car," said Mr Johnson.

"The reports were ones that a gun had been fired at someone, and the shots had shattered car windows.

"There were further reports of a similar nature from Newark."

Police stopped the car and found the gun nearby.

It was examined by forensics and it was found to be an imitation firearm capable of firing ball bearings or small shot.

Simon Cobb mitigating for one of the teenagers said: "The adult was the owner of the car.

"He drove them around Lincoln and all three accept that between them they took pot shots at primarily cars and property."

Sunnil Khanna, mitigating for the second teenager, said: "It is a joint enterprise and all are just as liable as each other."

Magistrates adjourned the case for probation reports to be compiled and told the pair they could possibly be send to a young offenders' institution.

The boys will be appear back at court for sentencing on March 25.

Patterson will appear for committal to Lincoln Crown Court at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on March 30.