MORE than 100 firearms and ammunition have been recovered during an 11 day county-wide amnesty.

Cumbria Police led the amnesty for the county which ran from November 10 to Friday (November 21), providing an opportunity for those who held firearms and ammunition, without a valid certificate, to surrender them to the force.

Among the 130 items recovered were 37 shotguns, 36 air weapons, 15 rifles, 13 pistols and two revolvers.

Chief Inspector David Bosson said: “We are really pleased with the number of firearms and ammunition that were handed in to police over the amnesty period.

"Every firearm or piece of ammunition that was recovered is one less firearm or ammunition that could fall into the hands of a person with criminal intentions.

“The weapons that have been recovered will now be examined and a definitive classification will be determined."

MORE TOP STORIES: He added many of the firearms and shotguns that were surrendered may have been correctly licensed but unwanted by their owners.

The amnesty followed a change to firearm legislation and gave the public the chance to hand in unwanted or unlawfully held firearms from replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns and imitation firearms, to antique firearms, component parts and other ballistic items.

Police and Crime Commissioner Richard Rhodes said: “I would like to thank people for taking part in the firearms amnesty. It is important that we all work together to keep Cumbria as safe as possible.”

For further information on the changes to firearm licensing laws please visit www.gov.uk/firearms-licensing-police-guidance