WILTSHIRE Police is asking gun owners to surrender their unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The force is holding a two-week amnesty from Saturday.

Gun laws were tightened last July, and now convicted criminals cannot keep antique firearms.

Judges can now hand out harsher sentences for people caught selling unauthorised guns or ammunition, up to life imprisonment.

And licence holders are being asked to give up guns they no longer need.

Inspector Steve McGrath said: “Wiltshire is a safe county in which to live and gun crime in the UK has continued to fall year on year for the last ten years. We are not complacent about gun crime however, which is why we are conducting a two week surrender as we want as many firearms as possible to be handed in.

“In previous campaigns across the country there have been various firearms handed in including antique guns, air weapons, rifles, shotguns.”

To hand in a gun, owners must call 101 to arrange for a specialist team collected.

The amnesty does not provide immunity from prosecution, but does protect against being arrested for possession of a firearm at the point of handing it over.

to a lawful authority.

The scheme is designed to remove guns from the streets, but it does not stop the police from investigating the background to any of the firearms handed in.

Where there is evidence to follow up a prosecution, the police will continue to do so.

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.