PEOPLE in possession of unwanted guns and other weapons are being urged to hand them in to police.

The Sussex Police appeal aims to reduce the number of illegally held firearms by offering those who own weapons the chance to dispose of them by handing them over at their local police station.

Weapons including replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, antique guns, component parts, stun guns, Taser, cs/pepper spray and other ballistic items can be handed in.

The surrender will run from Thursday, May 12, to Sunday, May 29.

During the two-week campaign, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession upon surrender.

Here are the dates and times of where you can hand in weapons in Sussex:

Brighton Police Station, John Street - Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm

Crawley Police Station, Northgate Avenue - Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm

Worthing Police Station, Chatsworth Road - Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm

Chichester Police Station, Kingsham Road - Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm

Hastings Police Station, Bohemia Road - Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm        

Eastbourne Customer Contact Point, Grove Road - Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm

Uckfield Police Station - Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm

The scheme, which is part of a national campaign by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service, is also encouraging current and previous military personnel to hand in any items kept as war trophies.

Superintendent Graham Barnett said: “If you have firearms or ammunition that you don’t know how to safely dispose of, we can help.

“By surrendering your weapons now, it will prevent them falling into the hands of criminals and endangering the public.

“Surrey Police and Sussex Police are participating in this firearms surrender alongside our colleagues across the country, and this is a good opportunity for anyone who has a firearm or ammunition that they want to get rid of, to do so safely.

“Perhaps there’s something which has come into your family as a ‘war trophy’, or has been handed down as an antique.

“You might have found something when clearing out a loft or garage, or you may have been given something to store on behalf of somebody else.

“Whether what you have is illegal or not, and whatever and however you came to have it, if you no longer want it, please hand it in.”

Superintendent Barnett added: “I’d like to clarify that this is a firearms surrender and not a general firearms amnesty for the previous lifetime of the firearm; an amnesty will be granted for police possession of an item only at the point of handover.

“The fight against gun crime is stronger than ever, and we are working with partners and our local communities to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity. We take all reports of incidents involving firearms extremely seriously, and robust action will be taken against anyone who commits a firearms related offence.”