HUNDREDS of firearms have been handed in to Dorset Police after a two-week amnesty.

Shotguns, rifles and revolvers were among the weapons surrendered by members of the public as part of the national initiative.

Police have warned anyone still holding an illegal firearm to get in touch so it can be disposed of safely.

Michelle Mounsey, alliance firearms and explosives licensing manager for the Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police, said a number of items handed in during the surrender will be subject to investigative testing.

She said: “As a result of this firearms surrender, hundreds of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition have been taken out of circulation within our communities.

"While not every firearm is owned with the intent of criminal activity, a firearm can become a lethal weapon in the wrong hands.

"The campaign was very much an opportunity for anyone to hand in illegal, unregistered or unwanted firearms or ammunition without risk of arrest at the point of surrender and while the campaign is now over, I would encourage anyone in possession of such a firearm or ammunition to continue to act responsibly and contact us for safe disposal in order to ensure our communities are a safe place to live.”

In total, 93 air weapons, including air pistols and air rifles, 13 pistols, 21 revolvers, nine rifles, 40 shotguns, nine deactivated firearms, 29 imitation firearms and rounds of ammunition were surrendered in Dorset.

The county's police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “It’s great that this initiative has been such a success.

"Many of these items, including imitation or deactivated firearms, can be perceived as safe.

"In fact, they still have the potential to cause harm in our communities and it is fantastic that these are now out of homes, off our streets and in the hands of the police.

"I would like to thank all those who engaged with this project.”

More than 350 firearms and 95 rounds of ammunition were handed in to officers serving with Hampshire Constabulary.

Self-loading pistols and working revolvers from the First World War - including two used during the Battle of the Somme - were among the weapons handed in.

A gun made to look like walking stick and another made to look like a pen were also surrendered.