GALLERY A Scuba diver today told how he found a sawn-off shotgun while helping to clear rubbish from an Ipswich river.

A SCUBA diver today told how he found a sawn-off shotgun while helping to clear rubbish from an Ipswich river.

David Cursons was searching the bottom of the River Gipping yesterday afternoon when he discovered the rusty weapon in some mud.

There were fears the single-barrel pump-action gun could have gone off and police have taken it away for further examination.

Mr Cursons, a diver for Diveline in St John's Road, Ipswich, said: “The visibility once you get down more than half a metre is nil so you are doing everything by feel.

“I came across three items - a steel rod, a plastic bottle and this other object. I brought them up to the surface and realised it was a shotgun.

“It could have been loaded and although it was rusty there was a possibility it could have gone off.”

The 64-year-old, who stumbled across the weapon near the bridge over Handford Road, said he remained calm throughout the incident.

He added: “As a diving instructor, you learn to cope with emergency situations and we are trained to aware.

“People can throw all sorts of things into the river, but you don't expect to find a gun. I assume someone didn't want it to be found.”

Mr Cursons volunteered to take part in the clean-up organised by CSV Media Clubhouse and The Greenways Countryside Project.

Diveline and canoeists from the 3rd Ipswich Rivers Cleanup spent most of the day pulling rubbish from the River Gipping, the Belstead Brook and the surrounding banks.

Last year, volunteers removed more than four tonnes of litter, including 50 shopping trolleys, 40 bikes, 20 traffic cones and even a washing machine.

A spokeswoman for Ipswich police said: “Police attended the area yesterday and at around 12.45pm seized the weapon which will be sent off for testing. It is believed to have been in the river for a considerable amount of time.”

If anyone has any information about the origin of the gun or the incident, please call Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Have you made an unusual find? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk