THE local policing unit (LPU) covering Knutsford had the highest amount of guns in the county handed over during a two-week amnesty.

Residents from across Cheshire took part in the national initiative, which ran from November 13 to 26.

The surrender gave residents the opportunity to safely dispose of firearms or ammunition, whether held lawfully or unlawfully, without the risk of prosecution.

Police saw 29 firearms, plus ammunition handed in to Macclesfield officers during the two-week period.

A total of 104 firearms were handed in to Cheshire Police as part of the surrender, with only Crewe and Warrington LPUs seeing more guns handed in than Macclesfield.

The other areas include Warrington (15), Widnes (four), Runcorn (two), Ellesmere Port (nine), Chester (10), Crewe (26) and Northwich (12).

Insp David Price said: “Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who had the confidence to come forward and surrender items during this campaign.

“Thanks to their support we can ensure that these weapons never get into the wrong hands.

“I would also like to reassure local residents that whilst some people may be concerned by the number of firearms we received, the majority of firearms surrendered were air rifles which were no longer used.

“We also received a number of unwanted, unlicensed firearms, BB Guns along with antique weapons which has been passed down through generations.”

All the weapons will be examined to ensure that they have not been used in any criminal offences, before being deactivated and destroyed.

A quantity of ammunition was also handed over during the two-week period.

People who have surrendered firearms will not automatically be charged, but will be if they are later connected to a crime.

The last gun surrender in England and Wales in 2014 saw more than 6,000 weapons handed in.

Insp Price said: “Although gun crime in Cheshire is low we must never forget that firearms are extremely dangerous, and can be deadly if they get into the wrong hands.

“This surrender was just one of a number of measures that we are taking to help to keep it low and reduce it even further.

“Whilst this surrender has now ended, I would urge anyone who still holds an unwanted or illegally held firearm to contact us on 101 so that we can arrange for it to be collected and destroyed.”