TWO mothers whose sons were stabbed to death are backing a two-week weapons amnesty.

Barbara Dunne was the mother of 31-year-old Robert Dunne, who was stabbed with a samurai sword yards from his home in West Lane, Middlesbrough, in January 2003.

Theresa Cave's 17-year-old son, Christopher, was stabbed in a flat in Burnmoor Close, Redcar, in June the same year.

Both are supporting a weapons amnesty being launched on Monday by Cleveland Police, who will provide a secure bin for the disposal of bladed instruments.

Chief constable Sean Price said he was specifically targeting knives, swords and other bladed instruments which could be used in crime.

He said: "The continuing culture of young people carrying knives 'for their own protection' can result in disastrous consequences. We need to put an end to this attitude. Young people who think they feel safer if they are carrying a knife are in fact putting their lives in danger."

Mrs Dunne said: "I believe the sale of knives and other sharp objects designed for aggressive purposes should be banned. Items such as samurai swords are sold as ornaments yet they have been proved to have a razor-edge blade."

Mrs Cave said: "I feel strongly about the need for change in young people's attitudes to carrying knives. If more people realised that the consequences of carrying a knife could be serious injury, or, as in Christopher's case, death, they would perhaps have second thoughts about having such weapons."

The number of incidents involving guns and air weapons fell by 22.5 per cent, from 40 in 2003, to 31 this year, but statistics of knife incidents on Teesside have increased by 73.8 per cent from 111 incidents in 2003, to 193 incidents this year. Incidents involving sharp instruments have also risen from 27 in 2003 to 34 this year - an increase of 25.9 per cent.