Police are asking gun owners to surrender their firearms and ammunition as part of a national amnesty.

In a bid to reduce the number of illegal firearms available to criminals in Suffolk members of the public will be able to hand over unlicensed weapons without fear of prosecution from November 13 to 26.

This includes replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, component parts and other ballistic items currently held.

Firearms licensing manager for Norfolk and Suffolk Police Richard Kennett said: 'Some people may have un-registered, old weapons that they have forgotten about, or have received one through inheritance that they no longer use, or that they don't know what to do with.

'Although such weapons aren't being used for crimes, it's important that they are handed in to the police to stop them from falling into the wrong hands.

'Fortunately we don't have a big problem with gun crime in Norfolk and reducing the amount of illegally owned firearms across the county will help reduce the threat of gun crime even further.'

Firearms can be surrendered at any police station, but people are encouraged to take them to their nearest public enquiry office.

In Suffolk these are:

• Lowestoft

• Ipswich

• Bury St. Edmunds

• Police HQ - Martlesham

Gun owners should make sure that the firearm is unloaded and covered up, and if possible people are asked to ring the police beforehand on 101 to let officers know that they are bringing a gun in as part of the operation.

The initiative has received support from police and crime commissioner for Suffolk Constabulary Tim Passmore.

He said: 'I fully support the Constabulary's firearms surrender. We live in a rural county and I know that people end up with guns that they don't know what to do with; this is an ideal opportunity to safely dispose of them.

'I appreciate these guns are not used for crime but the less guns in the county the less likely they are to fall into the wrong hands.'

For further advice on the surrender visit www.suffolk.police.uk or contact the firearms department by calling 01473 423666