GUN owners are being urged to surrender their weapons as a ban to outlaw high calibre handguns comes into force this week after the tragedy of Dunblane.

A three month amnesty period has been launched and gun owners can hand in their weapons at a collection point at Lancashire Constabulary's Hutton headquarters.

In addition, owners of .22 handguns have also been asked to surrender their weapons in anticipation of the firearms bill currently going before Parliament.

Officers have already been in contact with local licensed gun clubs and letters have been sent to each certificate holder outlining the location for surrender.

Lancashire currently has 2,200 licensed high calibre handguns in circulation plus 950 small-calibre weapons.

Assistant Chief Constable John Vine said: "We are very encouraged by the discussions we have had and we are hoping that handgun owners will cooperate fully when the time comes for them to hand in their weapons.

"The police service as a whole has welcomed the ban on certain weapons, but it must be remembered that we are merely acting as the agent for the Home Office so far as this phased surrender is concerned.

"We appreciate there are a great many responsible people holding firearms certificates but this enforcement is necessary to comply with new legislation."

Compensation arrangements have been made for large calibre handguns which will be made ex-gratia if .22 weapons are outlawed.

Owners have three options, a one off £150 compensation payment, a cash amount allotted by a price list, or, in the case of more valuable weapons, an independent evaluation.

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