Knives can be handed in at any police station in the city

The weapons can be dropped off anonymously at police stations and several youth clubs until the end of the month.

Officers say they have reacted to reports of youths carrying knives in Southmead, Horfield and Lockleaze.

From November, stop searches would be carried out, said a spokesman.

Anyone found with a knife would be arrested and risked prosecution, the spokesman added.

Sergeant Bob Evely said: "There have been a number of cases of organised fights between groups of young people during the past two months.

"On one occasion, a boy was stabbed."

The last knife amnesty in the city was held two years ago.

It followed a series of knife attacks, including the fatal stabbing of chef Liam Attwell who went to the aid of a mugging victim in the city centre.