HANDGUNS, rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been surrendered to Worcester police as part of the National Firearms Amnesty.

A total of 20 firearms, including eight handguns, a variety of rifles and 635 rounds of ammunition, as well as three weapons classed as sharp instruments, have been handed in to police in the city during the first two weeks of the month-long scheme.

The Government-led initiative is to reduce gun crime on the streets of Britain, which last night saw its latest victim when a 22-year-old man, from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, died from gunshot wounds.

West Mercia Police reported a total of 196 firearms and 2,774 rounds of ammunition have been handed in to police stations across the force area between Monday, March 31 and Friday, April 11.