MERSEYSIDE Police have today launched a two-week gun amnesty to give people in possession of illegal firearms the opportunity to hand them in.

This year's surrender, co-ordinated by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS), runs until Sunday, November 26.

Birkenhead Police station in Mortimer Street, Birkenhead will be accepting guns and ammunition during the two-week amnesty.

To check the opening times of all Merseyside stations accepting weapons during the campaign visit www.merseyside.police.uk

People handing them over will not face prosecution for the illegal possession, at the point of surrender, and can remain anonymous.

Illegal possession of a firearm can mean five years behind bars. If you are found guilty of possession with intent to supply that can lead to a life sentence.

Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Green said: "We know from experience that gun crime can devastate communities and tear families apart.

"We have already had a great deal of success in removing a number of weapons from our streets but we know that there is still a considerable amount of work to be done.

"This surrender will run alongside the pro-active work that our officers do every single day to take guns and the criminals who use them off our streets but we also need the communities help by handing over weapons that potentially could fall into the wrong hands and be used to cause fear and intimidation.

"Every gun surrendered is one less that can be used by criminals to commit serious offences.

"Merseyside Police continues to be relentless in its efforts to tackle all forms of serious and organised crime and bring those responsible before the courts.

"We will act on every single piece of information that we receive and I would appeal to anyone with information on firearms, or where they are stored, to contact us as soon as possible either on the gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."