A 16-year-old The Riverina Anglican College student was pulled up by Sydney Airport security on her way to visit a relative on the Gold Coast.

Anna Dore had bought a toy Nerf gun for her eight-year-old nephew but was told she was not allowed to board the plane with it because the gun was an offensive weapon.

The girl was reportedly given no other option than to hand the toy to security staff and lose it.

Bernadette Dore says her daughter was crushed she was unable to give the present to her nephew.

“We can see the funny side of it,” Mrs Dore said.

“But it’s pretty ridiculous, it’s red tape gone mad.

“It was just a plastic toy; if you pointed it at someone they would laugh at you.

“It’s not a weapon.”

Mrs Dore said her daughter felt too intimidated by security staff to argue her point, and reluctantly handed the toy over.

She believes the rules and regulations of flying are becoming too strict at metropolitan airports.

Sydney Airport media and communications manager Tracy Ong yesterday said the security staff were complying with strict regulations laid out in the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 and the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005.

“They state that replicas or imitation weapons – including toys – can not be carried through the screening point and are not permitted on board,” she said.

Ms Ong said Anna would have been allowed to include the toy in her checked luggage and store it under the plane, had she not already passed the check-in point.

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