As revealed in last week's Courier, a reporter was able to buy a serrated seven-inch knife for £6 from Wellesbourne market, without being asked for any form of identification.

Both police and trading standards officers are aware of the range of weapons - including daggers, lock-knives and guns - being sold.

But while it is against the law to carry such implements, the stall-holders are committing no crime by selling them.

Reacting to the report, Mr Maples said: "The sale of ceremonial swords is not the problem - it's kids who are carrying knives.

"What about people who are going camping? They often need to carry knives for perfectly legitimate reasons.

"We are going to have to get to some sort of definition about carrying a knife without a lawful reason. It's got to be more to do with carrying weapons in public places rather than what we are carrying.

"The police do have powers to stop and search people, but I don't want to live in a country where you can be stopped for no apparent reason."

He pointed out that the Home Office is currently preparing a report on the availability of weapons across the country, which would consider cases such as the weapons for sale in Wellesbourne.

He added: "There is quite a difficult dividing line, but we clearly need to look at the whole question of knives and we certainly have to get them off the street."