MORE than 600 weapons have been disposed of during a weapons amnesty held in the Beccles area.Between Monday, March 9 when the amnesty started, and last week when it finished, around 615 weapons were placed in the special yellow amnesty bin, which has been situated at three locations in the district.

MORE than 600 weapons have been disposed of during a weapons amnesty held in the Beccles area.

Between Monday, March 9 when the amnesty started, and last week when it finished, around 615 weapons were placed in the special yellow amnesty bin, which has been situated at three locations in the district.

The bin was sited in Hungate Lane car park in Beccles, the Rainbow car park at Hillside Road in Bungay and the Rainbow Saxon Way car park at Halesworth.

Among the items handed in were 541 knives, 22 pistols/handguns, 21 shotguns and rifles, 19 sea flares, four swords/bayonets, three nunchucks, three throwing stars, a Bowie knife, Gurkha knives and an unknown amount of ammunition.

Sgt Kevin Howell said: 'We are delighted that so many people took advantage of the amnesty. Although we are lucky to live in a comparatively low-crime area, we recognise that many rural residents do have unwanted weapons in an attic, shed or cupboard that that they may wish to get rid of and an amnesty gives the opportunity to dispose of them with no questions asked.

'Under normal circumstances the weapons would not pose a threat, however if they fell into the wrong hands - perhaps if you were burgled for example - these could be used for crime, so every item collected means one less in circulation.'

The amnesty was supported by Waveney Community Safety Partnership, who own the bin, and is part of the Nightsafe scheme to address violent crime in the district.