REPLICA guns, flick-knives and ammunition stored in homes in Felixstowe will not be falling into the hands of criminals thanks to a weapons amnesty.Police are delighted with the success of the resort's first "no questions asked" campaign which has persuaded a number of people to hand over weapons they had at home in their attics, sheds or cupboards.

REPLICA guns, flick-knives and ammunition stored in homes in Felixstowe will not be falling into the hands of criminals thanks to a weapons amnesty.

Police are delighted with the success of the resort's first "no questions asked" campaign which has persuaded a number of people to hand over weapons they had at home in their attics, sheds or cupboards.

A number of the items - including war-time bayonets and high-calibre machine gun magazines - were very old.

But many were newer, including illegal flick-knives, other knives, imitation handguns, flares and other assorted items.

Felixstowe sector commander Insp Neal Atwell said: "We have had more weapons handed in than I expected."

"All of the items which were put in the bin were things that criminals would have been happy to get their hands on and make use of, and now they will be removed from circulation."

It is thought many of the weapons were ones people had kept as souvenirs from their military days or for other reasons and then did not know how to get rid of them or were too embarrassed to hand them in, fearing questions.

But the special solid steel secure bin in the Cescent car park has allowed people to anonymously leave items.

The bin is expected to move this week to another town in the area. Police say people can still hand in weapons for disposal at the police station in High Road West and no questions will be asked.