FROM historic cutlasses and deadly daggers to steak knives and pizza cutters Dorset Police's month-long knife amnesty netted a whole host of blades from across the county.

Military bayonets, antique Samurai swords, ornamental spears, flick knives and lethal martial arts throwing stars were among the haul handed in by the public during the amnesty.

But some people also took the opportunity to clear out their cutlery drawers, leaving bemused officers with a collection of potato peelers, cake slices, pizza cutters and even forks and spoons.

A total of nearly 1,500 items were handed in during the amnesty, as Dorset Police urged the public not to carry blades in public and give up any unwanted knives.

Among the haul on show at Ferndown police headquarters yesterday were frightening home-made weapons, together with sharpened screwdrivers, commando daggers and cut-throat razors, along with more than 1,000 domestic knives.

Chief Supt Colin Matthews, head of Dorset Police's operations division, said: "It has been a very successful amnesty because it raises public awareness.

"The main focus is about discouraging people from carrying knives and recognising that it is a criminal offence to do so."

He welcomed the fact that even dining knives and other kitchen items were handed in during the initiative.

"Unwanted knives that would otherwise be disposed off in domestic rubbish could find their way into a young person's hands who might foolishly carry it with them," he said.

"Even if we get some seemingly innocuous items, at least they are off the streets and that makes Dorset a safer place."

During the period of the amnesty, which ran from May 24 to June 30, Dorset Police say there were 217 incidents when knives were mentioned, but only 11 cases where knives were actually used or it was threatened that they would be used.