Liverpool cemetery cordoned off after gun found

Police said a gun was found at the cemetery

A cemetery has been sealed off by police after a gun was found inside a bag along with ammunition.

Merseyside Police cordoned off hundreds of graves at West Derby Cemetery in Liverpool after the discovery at about 13:15 BST on Tuesday.

The force said the items would be "forensically recovered" and inquiries were ongoing.

It reassured the public that "vital work" would be carried out respectfully and "as swiftly as possible".

A gun was found inside a bag along with ammunition

Ammunition was also recovered from the scene

"We are aware that seeing police officers present in a cemetery may cause distress to some people," a spokeswoman said.

Det Insp John Mullen said: "This gun was stored with ammunition, which could have been used to cause serious harm."

The force has not confirmed whether the gun was linked to any recent shootings in Merseyside, but the officer added the force would conduct forensic work to "establish if this is a weapon which has been used before and who has had it in their possession".