By Danielle NuttallCrime CorrespondentTHIS is the haul of guns that has been recovered by police in Suffolk - hours before the deadline of a national firearms amnesty ended.

By Danielle Nuttall

Crime Correspondent

THIS is the haul of guns that has been recovered by police in Suffolk - hours before the deadline of a national firearms amnesty ended.

A total of 816 firearms and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition were handed into police stations in the county as part of an initiative to rid the streets of violent weapons.

The deadline for people to surrender guns passed at midnight yesterday and now anyone caught in possession of an unlicensed firearm could face a five-year prison term under proposed legislation.

Among the gun haul were more than 160 illegal firearms, including self-loading pistols, revolvers and fully automatic guns.

Since the Home Office amnesty was launched, officers in Suffolk have also recovered 79 other weapons.

Suffolk police firearms licensing manager, Richard Kennett, said the haul would help police in their efforts to make the county a safer place.

“Every weapon that is handed over to us helps to make Suffolk safer. The weapons entrusted to us will not fall into the hands of criminals,” he added.

“The response to this amnesty has simply been fantastic. By in large, the people of Suffolk are very responsible and they are taking this opportunity to rid their homes of weapons that have lain unused in attics and outbuildings before legislation is introduced which will mean a five-year mandatory prison sentence for possession of unlicensed weapons.”

danielle.nuttall@eadt.co.uk