Shotguns and rifles handed in during gun surrender on Merseyside

Police said many of the guns handed in were "antique"

Twenty-five shotguns, five rifles, 11 handguns and 2,600 rounds of ammunition have been handed in to Merseyside Police during a two-week surrender.

A total of 126 items were given in between 7 and 21 November, including 24 imitation guns and 26 air weapons.

Knives, laser pens and nail guns were also surrendered.

Det Ch Insp Tom Keaton said the force was "extremely pleased [as] every weapon handed in is one less which could be used on our streets".

He said, of the 41 firearms received, "many were antique guns, exactly the type that we were targeting, and nearly all appear to be capable of being discharged".

Twenty-five shotguns were surrendered, including one which had been sawn-off

"Whether or not they have been held illegally in the past, all of these weapons could have been fallen into the hands of criminals who would then have used them to cause fear and violence," he said.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their excellent response to the surrender operation."

In July, the maximum penalty for possession of an illegal firearm increased from 10 years' imprisonment to life.

A force spokesman said 12 of the firearms were being considered for assessment by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service as part of investigations into their history and use.