Sunderland arrests after 'zombie' knives found on men

Northumbria Police said two "zombie" knives had been recovered in Sunderland

Officers have released a picture of a pair of "zombie" knives that were seized from two men in Sunderland.

The 20 and 24-year-olds had also been carrying suspected cannabis when they were arrested in Pennywell, Northumbria Police said.

It comes as part of the force's crackdown on knife crime across north-east England.

The pair were charged and will appear before South Tyneside magistrates later this month.

Officers said the pair, who had their faces covered, were stopped following reports of suspicious behaviour in the area on Tuesday.

When they were searched, one man was found with the weapon attached to a belt.

They were both charged with possession of a knife and one of them also faces a class B drugs charge.

Supt Rob Bosson said it was "welcome news" that the weapons had been removed from circulation.

"Please know that we will do all we can to take dangerous weapons like these off the streets - and bring any offenders involved to justice."

The force said it was stepping up patrols and had installed knife disposal boxes at several police stations across Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.