WW2 machine guns among weapons handed to police in London

More than 140 guns have been handed to police across London

Two World War Two machine guns have been handed to police in Westminster during the opening week of a National Gun Surrender.

The initiative, which began on 13 November, has seen 143 guns given in to police across London.

The WW2 weapons, which had been deactivated, are among five automatic guns to have been handed in.

A further 3,859 rounds of ammunition have also relinquished as part of the campaign, which runs until Sunday.

Other weapons to be handed to police include 31 shotguns, 11 pistols, 10 handguns, nine revolvers and six rifles.

Police said people who surrendered firearms would not automatically be charged, but could be if weapons were later connected to a crime.

The weapons are being given to police as part of a National Gun Surrender campaign

Det Supt Mike Balcombe, of the Met's Trident and Area Crime Command, said: "Every firearm handed in to police makes the city safer as it prevents them from falling into the hands of criminals.

"I would urge anyone else who is in possession of an illegal firearm to visit their local 24-hour police station during the final days of the gun surrender."