Police say imitations guns can be as frightening as real ones

Anyone with illegal or unwanted firearms is being urged to hand them in without the need to fear prosecution.

Northumbria Police, Cleveland Police and Durham Police are also urging people to hand in air weapons, imitations and blank firers, which are held legally.

The amnesty comes ahead of the introduction of new sentences for illegal possession of prohibited firearms, and new restrictions on carrying imitations or air weapons in a public place.

Thousands of leaflets and posters are publicising the initiative, which runs until 30 April.

Firearms can be handed over the counter at any station within the Northumbria, Cleveland or Durham police areas.

'Real concern'

Northumbria Assistant Chief Constable David Warcup said: "We fully support this new campaign and we would urge people to take up this opportunity to get rid of any firearms they may have.

"By reducing the availability of firearms in circulation we are reducing the threat to the public and police officers."

Inspector Roy Smith of Durham Police said: "Replica weapon in particular are a real concern. Figures show that in 80% of crime where a weapon has been used but not discharged, these replicas are used.

"They are manufactured in such a way that trained firearms officers cannot tell the difference."

The amnesty from prosecution does not apply to weapons which have been used to commit crime.

Every police force in England, Scotland and Wales is taking part in the scheme.

The last national firearms amnesty in 1996, following the killing of schoolchildren at Dunblane, saw 23,000 firearms and 700,000 rounds of ammunition surrendered.