BAN THEM NOW! WE BOUGHT DEADLY CROSSBOW IN 2 MINUTES

JUST hours after the nation was shocked by a crossbow attack that left three people dead, the Express was able to buy a similar weapon with no questions asked.

- Paul Jeeves

Today we call for a ban on the sale of the deadly devices, which can be purchased over the counter by any over-18. In just two minutes, having paid £42.99, we left a shop with a powerful self-cocking Cyclone crossbow.

It can be set up straight from the box in seconds and came with three ready-to-fire bolts. The weapon was obtained without ID or paperwork from a shop that sells an array of "hunting" equipment, including assault-style BB guns.

We bought it from the Fantasia store in central Leeds as the country tried to come to terms with the murders of Carol Hunt and her daughters Hannah and Louise by a man with a crossbow.

Higher demand for crossbows ahead of expected tighter legislation meant that it was the last in stock at Fantasia.

As well as cracking down on the sale of the weapons, the Express is calling for tough legislation to ensure that the estimated 300,000 crossbows thought to be owned in Britain are subject to strict ownership and registration rules.