A 20-year-old who dumped a carving knife in a Kendal bin was attempting to 'make the streets safer', said police.

Yesterday (Tuesday) police appealed for information after a member of the public saw a woman put the knife into a wheelie bin on Tenterfell Court at 9am.

The knife, which police said had no blood on it, was recovered by officers who appealed for information about the incident.

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But today (Wednesday) police said they have located and spoken to the woman.

They said they have established that there were no suspicious circumstances.

She had found the knife on the floor and threw it in a bin, out of harm’s way, said cops.

Sergeant Ralph Timms said: "We have corroborated her story and we are satisfied that this woman did not own the knife and had no suspicious intentions. 

"She is a considerate member of the local community, and was concerned when she found a knife on the floor. She decided to throw it in the bin to ensure no one would accidently come across it.

“This was a kind act by a someone who wants to make our streets safer – however, I would urge anyone who finds any potential weapons to contact Cumbria Police on 101 and report it instead.”

Anyone who has any information as to why the knife was found in the area is asked to call Cumbria Police on 101 and ask for the duty sergeant at Kendal Police Station, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.