The campaign is the latest in a number of successful weapons amnesties aimed at ridding the streets of guns and knives.

The "no-questions-asked" weapons surrender will run from Thursday, 24 October, to Monday, 11 November.

Bins will be placed at all three main stations, in Primate Road, Farringdon, Gillbridge Avenue, Sunderland and The Galleries, Washington.

We hope to encourage people to surrender them in a safe environment so we can make the streets of Wearside a safer place

Chief Inspector John Brady, Sunderland Police

All three are open 24 hours, and another bin will also be placed at Houghton le Spring station, in Dairy Lane, open from 0700 to 2400 BST.

Chief Inspector John Brady, at Sunderland City area command, said: " We cannot over-emphasise the danger of these weapons.

"There is no reason why anyone should be carrying air weapons or knives or keeping dangerous weapons in their home.

"In the last year the three area commands have dealt with 492 firearms incidents.

"We hope to encourage people to surrender them in a safe environment so we can make the streets of Wearside a safer place."