MORE than 70 guns, ammunition and BB guns have been handed in to police in Gloucestershire during the first five days of a national firearms surrender campaign.

Operation Aztec, the national campaign supported by Gloucestershire Police, aims to safely remove from circulation as many unwanted firearms as possible to prevent them falling into the wrong hands.

It began on Monday, November 13 and runs until Sunday, November 26.

Chief Inspector Jason Keates said: "I am very pleased with the public response to Operation Aztec during the first week, and would encourage anyone who still has unwanted firearms, ammunition or items such as concealed stun guns to surrender them to one of the five nominated locations."

Members of the public can hand in any firearm or imitation gun, stun gun, incapacitant spray or ammunition to a number of nominated locations. Anyone surrendering guns and prohibited weapons during the campaign will not face prosecution for illegal possession of a firearm at the point of surrender and they can remain anonymous.

Any item subsequently found to be linked to crime will attract further investigation, however.

Nominated locations in Gloucestershire are police stations in Stroud, Cheltenham, Cinderford, Coleford, and Gloucester.