SCORES of weapons have been handed in during the first week of a national firearms surrender, including what is believed to be a fully functioning German wartime rifle with live ammunition.

Northumbria Police have taken in 160 weapons, including 10 handguns, 11 rifles, 32 shotguns, 78 air weapons, 22 imitation guns and seven other weapons, such as tasers and flare guns.

Chief Inspector Dave Gould said: “We’ve had a really good response to the surrender so far with 160 weapons and a large quantity of ammunition being handed in at our police stations across the force area.

"We have received a varied range of weapons and these have included some firearms which are believed to date back to World War One and and World War Two.

"These items may have been veteran war trophies, with some of them inherited by their families who may have been in a quandary as to what to do with them for several years and have welcomed the opportunity to safely dispose.

“With four days of the surrender still to run I urge anyone to wants to safely hand in a gun of any description to do so at a police station and you can remain anonymous."

He added: "You will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and you can be confident that you have got rid of it safely.

"Some guns are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality, or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes.

"Every firearm handed in is one less chance for a gun to fall into the hands of a criminal and could potentially save a life.”