ALMOST 7,000 weapons including blades, swords and even guns have been handed in across Essex during a knife amnesty campaign.

Since the initiative was launched in January 2015, 6,897 weapons, including a BB gun and a pellet gun, have been collected from bins in Clacton, Colchester, Chelmsford, Braintree and Basildon.

A knife amnesty bin was installed opposite the Chalvedon Social Club, in Chalvedon Square, Pitsea, following the fatal stabbing of Darren Kelly in October last year.

The bins are provided by weapons awareness charity Only Cowards Carry, working in partnership with councils, Essex Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex.

Once collected, the blades are sent to the British Ironwork Centre, which is transforming surrendered weapons collected from across the country into an angel sculpture.

Only Cowards Carry also hope to commission their own feather-shaped sculpture.

Chief Superintendent Ewen Wilson said: "A substantial number of lethal weapons have already been taken off our streets through this initiative.

"If amnesties persuade even one person to think twice about carrying a knife and to get rid of it, then they are a valuable tool in making Essex an even safer county.

"They also provide a way for law abiding members of the public to get rid of knives they no longer need in way that guarantees they will never end up in the wrong hands."

Knife crime campaigner Caroline Shearer, from Only Cowards Carry, said: "We are very proud that our amnesty bins are a great success.

"However, this is not the end. It is the beginning of safer communities.

"We all have a responsibility to protect our towns, our streets, our homes, our neighbours, our colleagues and especially our families.

"This is not going to be a single-handed mission. Everyone has to, and is, pulling together."

Anyone with information about knife crime can call Essex Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.