A last minute rush in Kent resulted in a total of 1,288 weapons being handed in during the national gun amnesty.

As well as the weapons, 62,385 rounds of ammunition were also surrendered in the county throughout the month-long amnesty.

Kent Police said by 23 April the force had received 678 unwanted or illegal guns.

But in the last week of the amnesty, which finished at the end of April, 610 weapons were handed in.

This total figure compares to the previous gun amnesty held seven years ago when 651 were handed in overall.

The amnesty was held before new rules come into force which makes it illegal to carry an imitation firearm in public without a reasonable excuse.

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

Superintendent Trevor Pankhurst said: It may well be the case that the government's intention to introduce a mandatory five-year minimum sentence for possession of a prohibited firearm and new restrictions on carrying imitation guns and air weapons in a public place has resulted in people realising the sensible thing to do was surrender their weapons and ammunition.

"The fact is that nearly 1,300 weapons and more than 60,000 rounds of ammunition have been taken out of public circulation.

"Gun crime is not only rare in Kent, it declined in the past year by more than 40%.

"The guns amnesty results mean a vast number of weapons and amount of ammunition cannot fall into the wrong hands."