POLICE in the region are urging people to use the last days of a national amnesty to hand in their guns.

Gun owners have until midnight on Wednesday to give up their weapons.

Durham Police yesterday encouraged them to take advantage of the no prosecution offer.

So far in the Durham force area, more than 150 shotguns, rifles, handguns and other firearms have been handed in since the start of the amnesty, on March 31.

More than 150 other weapons, mainly knives, but also CS gas canisters, two crossbows and a bow and arrow, have been given up, along with 2,800 rounds of ammunition.

The haul also included a detonator from a mine, taken to Stanley police station, which was thought to be still live.

The force, which ran its own amnesty last October, is pleased with the response.

Inspector Ken Cook, of the force's operations division, said: "The response across the force area in the past three weeks has been excellent, bearing in mind our local amnesty last year brought in 348 firearms, knives and other weapons.

"As only a few days are left before the national campaign comes to an end, there is still an opportunity for any law-abiding people who have guns in their possession to hand them in."