MORE than 600 knives, guns, swords and bayonets are among the weapons handed in during an amnesty held in north Suffolk.

MORE than 600 knives, guns, swords and bayonets are among the weapons handed in during an amnesty held in north Suffolk.

Police estimate 615 weapons were placed in a special yellow bin, situated at three locations over the past four weeks while the amnesty was in place.

The bin was sited in Hungate Lane car park in Beccles, the Rainbow car park at Hillside Road in Bungay and the Rainbow Saxon Way car park at Halesworth.

Among the items handed in were 541 knives, 22 pistols/ handguns, 21 shotguns and rifles, 19 sea flares, four swords/ bayonets, three nunchucks, three throwing stars, a Bowie knife, Gurkha knives and a quantity of ammunition.

Sergeant Kevin Howell, of Suffolk police, said; “We are delighted that so many people took advantage of the amnesty.

“Although we are lucky to live in a comparatively low-crime area, we recognise that many rural residents do have unwanted weapons in an attic, shed or cupboard that that they may wish to get rid of and an amnesty gives the opportunity to dispose of them with no questions asked.

“Under normal circumstances the weapons would not pose a threat, however if they fell into the wrong hands - perhaps if you were burgled for example - these could be used for crime, so every item collected means one less in circulation.”