A quarter of all shotgun licences were held in Northern area

There were just under 80,000 certificates at the end of 2002, a drop of nearly 4,000 from the previous year.

But the number of legally-held weapons rose slightly from 2001, according to a report from the Scottish Executive.

Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry welcomed the figures but said the dangers from firearms must continue to be highlighted.

"We are working to deliver a safer, stronger Scotland," he said.

"The majority of people in Scotland continue to show a sensible and responsible attitude to the ownership of these weapons and are working with the police to ensure that we maintain the progress made since tightening the regulations on gun ownership."

Second amnesty

During a month-long amnesty in Scotland in April, 3,393 firearms were surrendered.

The amnesty was the second since 1996 when Thomas Hamilton broke into Dunblane Primary School and opened fire on a class in the gym.

The figures released on Wednesday show there has been almost a 20% reduction in firearms certificates since the Dunblane shootings.

More than a quarter of all firearms certificates were held in the Northern Constabulary area. Grampian and Strathclyde jointly accounted for about another third.

The number of certificates on issue per head of population was highest in the Northern area and lowest in Strathclyde.

The statistics also reveal that the number of registered firearms dealers in 2002 rose to 285, the first increase since 1994.

The figures included in the report cover the period in which firearms legislation was changed to ban the possession of large and small calibre handguns.