A WEAPONS amnesty on Wearside has been hailed a success.

Sunderland residents have been handed in 87 potentially dangerous weapons to Northumbria Police over the past three weeks.

Thirty-seven guns and 50 knives have handed over at police stations across three area commands. Live ammunition, airgun pellets, meat cleavers and a sword have also been surrendered.

Chief Inspector John Brady, operations manager at Sunderland Area Command, said: "We are pleased that so many weapons have been brought to us. Many of these items were capable of causing serious injury or death if they were in the wrong hands."

The weapons given to police include a Colt 45, a Magnum 357 and Magnum 44 replicas, a Second World War pistol and an air weapon with a bayonet.

*Although the official amnesty period has ended, officers said they would still take weapons handed in at Wearside police stations.