A BEACH walker had the shock of their lives when they discovered a rusted AK-47 on their Sunday morning stroll.

A member of the public found the deadly assault rifle on Peacehaven beach on Sunday morning and then took the weapon to Brighton to hand it in to officers at the John Street police station.

Officers told Argus that the serial number is still visible on the gun and so checks are being made to track down the owner and solve the mystery of how it arrived on the Sussex shoreline.

Chief Inspector Dave Padwick, of the Brighton Neighbourhood Response Team, said: "It is illegal to own such a weapon in the UK.
 
"It appears it was washed up on the tide.

"There was no ammunition with it.

"It will now be subject to a full examination as we try to establish its provenance.

"However, at this stage it is not believed to be linked to any crimes."