A TOTAL of 282 guns - including a sawn-off shotgun - have been handed in to county police following a nationwide amnesty in the wake of the Dunblane tragedy.

Police all over Britain urged the public to hand in firearms after crazed gunman Thomas Hamilton massacred 16 infants and their teacher in the tiny Scottish village in March.

With 36 firearms handed in at police stations in Blackburn and Darwen, Inspector Stuart Caley from Blackburn Police said: "Though the amnesty is now over we are still urging people to hand in unwanted weapons. The fewer firearms on the streets the better."

A sawn-off shotgun and sawn-off .22 airrifle with homemade silencer were among the 23 firearms and 12 knives handed in at police stations across Hyndburn.

Chief Inspector McEwan Downie, Accrington police's amnesty co-ordinator said: "We are very pleased with the response to the appeal. Any gun off the streets means one less falling into the wrong hands."

All the weapons handed in have been closely examined by a qualified firearms officer and been declared safe. They will be securely stored by the police before being disposed of.

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