MORE than 100 guns and pieces of ammunition were handed into police in Oxfordshire as part of a two-week amnesty.

Thames Valley Police said 117 items were surrendered in total across the county, with officers receiving 54 in Abingdon alone – more than any other police area across the whole region.

In Oxford, 14 guns and pieces of ammunition were handed in, along with 16 in Bicester, 28 in Banbury and 21 in Witney.

Firearms included antiques, starter pistols, deactivated and imitation firearms and BB guns, with those handing them in avoiding further police action during the period from November 13 to 27.

Chief Inspector Emma Baillie, Head of Armed Response for Hampshire and Thames Valley, said: "We would like to thank everyone who handed in any firearms or ammunition as part of this surrender.

"This means that there are fewer firearms and imitation firearms on our streets, which could have easily fallen into the hands of criminals.

"As a result our neighbourhoods are much safer, both for our residents and for our officers who work every day and night to protect them.

"We are very pleased that so many people took the opportunity to take part in this initiative and the number of firearms recovered certainly proves how valuable such a surrender is."

TVP joined forces across the country to take part in the national campaign run by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS).

In the Thames Valley, 387 items were collected, with 500 in total including the Hampshire Police area.

They included a First World War pistol, used in the Battle of the Somme, which was surrendered on the Isle Of Wight. 

During the campaign, those handed in guns did not face prosecution for the illegal possession upon surrender and can remain anonymous.

Now that the surrender is finished, police say anyone who finds a gun or is uncertain about whether possession of might be illegal, can call call 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.