A dozen samurai swords were handed into police in Chatteris as part of a week-long knife amnesty.

Police said a member of the public handed in the collection of samurai swords "and other ornamental blades on Sunday (April 25).

"Although sold for an ornamental purpose, these blades if in the wrong hands are potentially deadly weapons," said a police spokesman.

Between April 2020 and March 2021, there were 243 possession of an article with a blade or point offences.

A police spokesman said: "We’re asking parents and carers to help us tackle knife crime in the county.

"Only a very small percentage of young people actually carry knives, but if you suspect your child might be one of them please speak to them about it."

The spokesman added: "You’re actually more likely to be seriously injured, or even killed, if you carry a knife and you run the very real risk of being prosecuted.

"We’re holding a knife amnesty this week, with bins at Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough and Parkside Police Station in Cambridge until 2 May.

"Please take this opportunity to dispose of weapons. Even if you don’t think they would ever actually use the knife, why not eliminate the risk entirely?"