The force wants people with replicas guns to use a national firearm amnesty as an opportunity to give them up.

From Monday, anyone with illegally-held weapons has the chance to hand them in to police without fear of prosecution.

Police stations in Stafford, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Hanley are accepting weapons in Staffordshire as part of the scheme.

Toy gun

A police spokesperson has warned that people carrying any kind of weapon in public risk being confronted by armed officers.

The spokesperson said an armed team was recently sent to deal with a man holding a toy gun.

The action came after operators received a telephone call warning that a car passenger was holding a firearm to the head of a driver.