SHOTGUNS, air rifles, an antique musket and a 1916 tear gas grenade are among the items handed into Wiltshire Police so far during a national firearms surrender.

More than 100 items have been surrendered to the force in the space of a week, including 14 shotguns, 13 pistols, 12 air rifles, one antique musket and an empty 1916 tear gas grenade. Ammunition has also been collected with some of the firearms.

The two-week long surrender ends on Sunday, and is appealing for people to hand over unlicensed or unwanted firearms and ammunition, with no fear of prosecution.

Inspector Barry Hickman said: “I’m very pleased with the response we’ve had from the public so far and by the number of weapons that have been handed in to us.

“The fight against gun crime is stronger than ever and we are working with partners and our local communities to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity.

“We use various tactics to locate weapons that have fallen into the wrong hands – but we need the public’s help. We want as many weapons as possible and would encourage people to hand them in.

“During the surrender we want people to hand in illegally-held guns and ammunition, those used for criminal purposes or that you have been asked to hide for someone else. We will also accept other unwanted guns and ammunition including air guns and imitations firearms.

“One weapon off the streets is one less that can be used to harm or threaten our communities.”

The number of firearms handed in to Wiltshire Police in the first week of the surrender is more than three times the number handed in at this point during the last firearm surrender in 2015.

Police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson, said: “I would like to applaud Wiltshire Police for this welcome initiative, and the people who have come forward so far to surrender unlicensed or unwanted firearms.

“Wiltshire is one of the safest counties in the country and this campaign will help to keep it that way.

“Every weapon handed in helps to makes our county that bit safer by removing the risk of the firearms getting into the wrong hands or being accidentally fired.”

Weapons and ammunition can be surrendered at six police stations across Wiltshire including Bourne Hill, Gablecross, Marlborough, Melksham, Monkton Park and Trowbridge.

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