Cheshire police has launched a two-week firearm surrender today (April 4) in a bid to keep gun crime in the county down.

Anyone who has unwanted and unlicensed weapons can hand them over to police without the threat of being prosecuted for their illegal possession up until 7pm on Monday, April 18.

Those surrendering weapons can remain anonymous but, unlike a firearms amnesty, previous offences linked to the firearm will be investigated.

The initiative is part of a regional firearms surrender which aims to reduce the number of illegal weapons across the North West.

Superintendent Bev Raistrick said: “Gun crime in Cheshire is relatively low and that’s the way we want to keep it.

“During previous amnesties we have found that the majority of the weapons handed in by the public were wartime items that people had inherited from relatives who have passed away.

“Often people are unsure what to do with them so they simply end up being put up in the loft or buried under all of the tools in sheds and outbuildings.”

During the surrender, members of the public will be able to hand in weapons and ammunition – including legal weapons that are no longer required – at the front counters of the following police stations:

Chester Police Station, Blacon Road

Crewe Police Centre, Civic Centre

Macclesfield Police Station, Brunswick Street

Northwich Police Station, Chester Way

Warrington Police Station, Arpley Street

Widnes Police Station, Gerrard Street

Superintendent Raistrick said: “By taking time to have a sort through your possessions you could help to make Cheshire an even safer county for future generations.

“By removing just one weapon from the streets you can help ensure that it doesn’t get into the wrong hands.

“Any items that we do receive will be deactivated before being destroyed.”

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms, call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Crimestoppers is offering a reward up to £1,000 for information that leads to the recovery of a firearm and an arrest and conviction.