MORE than 100 firearms have been collected by Wiltshire Police during a two week surrender, which finished on Sunday (20).

Items collected include 27 air rifles, 35 shotguns, nine air pistols, three revolvers and three handguns. Ammunition has also been collected with some of the firearms.

Inspector Steve McGrath said: “We are really pleased with the level of response to this surrender. It means there are now 100 fewer firearms within the communities of Wiltshire and Swindon.

“There were a mix of weapons collected. However most of the items surrendered were shotguns and air rifles, which is what we expect in a rural county.

“Many of the firearms are old and cobweb-covered, which have been in people’s possession for some time. Those handing these type of firearms to us have been really pleased we have collected them through this surrender, giving them an avenue to dispose of the weapons safely.”

Firearms collected also include inherited service weapons from the First and Second World War, antique weaponry dating back to Victorian times, duelling pistols, starting pistols, stage props and BB guns.

Inspector McGrath added: “Many of these firearms have stories to tell, such as a .303 rifle from the 1870s. This was an ‘unreliable’ rifle type for military use, but was converted to .22 calibre and used for sporting purposes in shooting clubs across the country. We also collected two rare European pistols from the 1900s.”

The majority of the firearms collected will be destroyed. Wiltshire Police has also established contacts with weapon museums and some of the antique items are likely to be passed to them for display.

During the surrender, Jeremy Kyle visited Wiltshire Police filming for the Kyle Files looking at the wider issue of gun crime nationally. The programme is due to be broadcast in January.

Inspector McGrath added: “Wiltshire is a safe county in which to live and gun crime in the UK has continued to fall year on year for the last ten years. We are not complacent about gun crime however, which is why we ran this surrender and we are pleased, as a result, there are now 100 firearms removed from our communities in Wiltshire and Swindon.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson, said: “This has been an excellent initiative by Wiltshire Police to get unlicensed or unwanted firearms out of harm’s way.

“I would also like to thank everyone who took the opportunity presented by the surrender to contact the force and ask for their firearm to be collected.

“Their responsible attitude has helped to make Wiltshire a safer place by removing the risk of the firearms getting into the wrong hands or being accidentally fired.”

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always call 999.