A 17-year-old boy has been left in "sheer shock" after being “kicked and kneed” when arrested by armed police officers for playing with a water pistol.

Kody Godwin was at the local shops on his bike with a friend with a water pistol when a member of the public rang the police telling them a gun was sighted.

It is understood that around 10 armed officers turned up near the shops at Gainsborough Green in Abingdon at around 7.30pm on Tuesday, August 6.

Eyewitnesses also saw police dogs, a helicopter and undercover officers called to the incident with pictures showing Kody on the ground.

His mum, Tricia Godwin, told the Oxford Mail that while he was on the ground “there was a gun pointed into his back the whole time”.

The water pistol Kody's family say he was playing withThe water pistol Kody's family say he was playing with (Image: Contributed)

Kody’s parents said they were told their son had been taken to Reading police station only to find out he was still at Abingdon police station before he was transferred to Banbury where he stayed overnight as CCTV footage was reviewed.

A search warrant also took place to his bedroom, Ms Godwin added.

He was released along with his friend at around 11am the following morning with no further action to be taken.

Ms Godwin said: “During the arrest, he laid on his back and they told him to turn over and as he turned over they kicked him in the side. There is no need for that at all.

“He has never been in trouble with the police before. I think he is a bit miffed about it obviously.

“It was an overreaction. I am worried about how it is going to affect Kody later on in life. He may get PTSD from it. It isn’t something that is just going to go away.”

Jason Godwin, Kody’s dad, was in France for work at the time, but asked his wife to request the body camera footage from the police after speaking to his son.

The family said they were told it could not be released as Kody has not been charged.

“It was sheer shock, he’s got bruises on his side from where they kicked or kneed him on the side when they turned him over," Kody's father added.

“We are both scared. Your son is just out playing with a water pistol and all of a sudden you have 10 armed police grappling him to the floor. What is this world coming to?

“His outlook on the police now has totally changed.

"Before he would go up to the police and interact with them, but now there is no way after that as there was no need for what happened."

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “We received a report from a concerned member of the public of an incident of possession of a firearm on Gainsborough Green.

“Officers attended the scene and two 17-year-old boys, both from Abingdon, were arrested on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm in a public place.

“After a thorough investigation, they were later released without charge.

“It is important that we take reports of firearms very seriously and reply to reports of firearms swiftly.

“We are not aware of a formal complaint in relation to this incident. However, formal complaints can be made via our website.”