An officer with a knife handed in at Folkestone during the amnesty

Officers were patrolling in Maidstone and Medway on Wednesday in an education campaign targeting traders, alongside the national knife amnesty.

The Offensive Weapons Act of 1996 outlaws the sale of knives and other bladed items to under-16s.

Most traders abide by the law but police wanted to remind them of the rules, Ch Insp Mark Harrison said.

He said: "The majority of traders know the law and abide by it.

"By distributing safety leaflets and working with traders in this way, we are reminding them of the law and in addition will help remind members of the public not to approach traders and try to buy knives illegally."

KENT KNIFE AMNESTY FIGURES 464 weapons handed in during week one 752 during week two 501 during week three 493 during week four Total: 2,210

The force said people in Kent had handed in more than 2,000 weapons in the first four weeks of the amnesty, which runs until 30 June.

Weapons handed in included an axe in Deal, and three Samurai swords in Whitstable.

A survey across England and Wales by the Trading Standards Institute found that more than a quarter of shops were still selling knives illegally to children, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Test purchases were carried out in 14 areas using volunteers aged 12 to 14 to approach shopkeepers and ask to buy knives.