Nearly 50 firearms were handed in to Essex Police during their two-week firearm surrender.

The campaign ran from Saturday, 20 July until Sunday, 4 August, were anyone who had a gun which they didn’t want, need or have a licence for to hand it in.

Anyone who possessed a firearms illegally would not face prosecution for the illegal possession at the point of surrender.

In total, 47 firearms and 581 rounds of ammunition were handed in.

Items surrendered included a one inch calibre military signal gun, a WWII .38 service revolver, a Mauser 7.65 pistol, a Colt .45 single-action revolver, and eight shotguns.

Detective Superintendent Nick Gossett, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “There has been a really positive response to the firearm surrender and I want to thank all those who took part.

“Even one gun handed in to us is one fewer gun that could get into the hands of a criminal and be used to threaten, create fear or harm someone.

“Our officers regularly carry out proactive operations to tackle criminals using weapons and target those who are possessing them illegally.

“We’ve carried out a number of warrants in the last year where we’ve seized a significant number of illegally held firearms and this surrender is just another way we’re protecting Essex.”