Police in east Cleveland say they have "virtually eliminated" crime involving the use of airguns.

It follows an amnesty at Loftus Police station, a trial which will be repeated throughout the Cleveland Police force area next month.

The amnesty has also involved directly approaching known airgun users in the area as well as laying on extra police patrols.

Police constable Eddie O'Hara had stopped going into woodland to use their weapons.

Weapon testing

Mr O'Hara told BBC Radio Cleveland: "I've worked up here for a lot of years and I've got to know the people who carry these weapons.

"We have seized a couple of weapons and we've sent some off for testing.

"We have also called at people's home addresses to warn them that if they go to the wood and shoot anything or anyone, we will come and get them.

"The result is they have stopped going in [the woods].

"Thankfully I have got a lot of members of the public who I talk to and they would tell me if there was anything going on."