People can surrender their weapons in police stations across Sussex

The first nationwide amnesty in seven years was launched on Monday and enables people to hand in guns to police stations without fear of being prosecuted.

The project comes just before new legislation that will make it an offence to possess a replica firearm or air weapon in a public place without a reasonable excuse.

A minimum five-year sentence will be handed out for illegal possession of a firearm under the new rules.

Firearms can be handed in at these police stations Bexhill Brighton Chichester Crawley Eastbourne Hastings Haywards Heath Uckfield Worthing

Assistant Chief Constable, Geoff Williams, said: "Every single weapon taken out of circulation is good news.

"We believe a considerable number of guns are being held in lofts and attics, perhaps acquired as a result of the death of an elderly relative.

"But we also have concerns about imitation and replica guns, sometimes being carried by young men, possibly in ignorance."

Assistant Chief Constable Williams said last year there were 67 robberies in Sussex where a firearm was seen many of which were likely to have been imitation or air weapons.