CHESHIRE Police have launched a two-week firearms amnesty.

All guns can be handed in anonymously at police stations across the county, including Warrington Police Station, from today, Thursday.

This will run until Sunday, May 29, with the campaign also including imitation firearms, illegal antique guns and ammunition.

Anyone who surrenders items during this time will not face prosecution, although an investigation will be launched if a weapon is found to have been used during the commission of a crime.

Chief inspector James Wilson said: “The next two weeks are an opportunity for people to hand in firearms anonymously without facing prosecution.

“I’d encourage those who know they are in possession of a gun, ammunition or air soft weapon to hand them in, but I’d also ask you to check lofts and sheds for any guns that may have been long-forgotten.

“It goes without saying that these weapons are incredibly dangerous, but by handing them over to police you are preventing them from potentially being placed into the hands of criminals who use them to cause serious harm, make threats and intimidate people within our community.”

Firearms should be wrapped and packaged before being handed in at the Arpley Street station, which is open from 8am to 8pm from Monday to Saturday.

Meanwhile, the constabulary has also announced a knife amnesty in the town – with a surrender bins to be stationed at sites across the borough for the next fortnight.

This will start on Saturday, May 14, from 5pm to 7pm at Honiton Square in Penketh.

The amnesty will then continue at Davies Way car park in Lymm from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, May 15, followed by Birchwood Shopping Centre between 10am and 12pm on Monday, May 16, and Sainsbury’s in Chapelford from 10am to 12pm on Tuesday, May 17.

Bins will then be in place from 3pm to 5pm the same day at the Co-op on Holes Lane in Woolston before moving to the shops at Hood Manor from 9am to 11am on Wednesday, May 18, then Sainsbury’s on Church Street from 12pm to 2pm.

On Thursday, May 19, the amnesty will be held on Lingley Road in Great Sankey from 10am to 12pm and at Fearnhead Cross from 1pm to 3pm.

Friday, May 20, will see it move to the Forge Shopping Centre in Stockton Heath followed by the Co-op in Culcheth and Bewsey and Dallam Hub on Saturday, May 21 – from 9.30am to 11.30am and 12pm to 2pm respectively.

Bins will be stationed at the Co-op on Kingsway South in Latchford from 11am to 1pm on Sunday, May 22, before the campaign concludes at Asda Westbrook between the same times on Saturday, May 28.