Firearms amnesty: 100 guns are handed in

Officers collected a haul of 46 shotguns, 41 various air guns, pistols and five rifles. Also taken to police stations were eight revolvers and three self-loading pistols, in addition to various calibres of live ammunition.

Some items will be submitted to NABIS (National Ballistics Intelligence Service) and after any evidential issues have been explored the majority of the items will be destroyed. However, there are some historical pieces, including First World War weapons and several rare American produced guns that the force will donate to organisations including the Royal Armouries and accredited government “proof houses”.

Supt Jon Puttock said: “The gun surrender has been a great success for Lancashire Police. Clearly it’s concerning to see so many dangerous weapons on the street but taking these firearms and ammunition out of circulation can only be a good thing.

“We have also had lots of interesting and historic items handed in, including a stun gun disguised as torch and some of the firearms date back to the first and second World Wars.

“Many of the weapons are old but many remain live and if fired are capable of killing. All it would take is one burglary for a gun to be stolen and end up in criminal hands.”

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

New firearms legislation came into effect in July increasing the maximum jail term for illegal gun possession with aggravating features from 10 years to life.