Police in Lancashire hope to cut down on knife related crime as a nationwide amnesty was launched yesterday.

During the five week knife amnesty period from May 24-June 30, people will be urged to hand in their knives and other bladed weapons.

Over the last three years knives have used in more than 5,000 crimes in Lancashire.

Knives can be handed directly to any police officer or can be brought into any police station. Special bins for knives are also being placed at police stations.

If members of the public are planning to hand a knife in please ensure that the weapon is wrapped in cardboard before transporting it or handing it in.

All knives can be handed in anonymously the police won't ask for any details and the knives won't be routinely forensically tested unless specific intelligence to suggest that a particular knife being handed in has been used in a crime.