AN axe, baton, a blade and knives were just some of the weapons children were caught carrying into schools in Lancashire.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported earlier this year that children as young as 10 have been bringing knives into Lancashire’s classrooms.

However a new freedom of information request revealed the full breakdown of the 52 weapons being taken to class in the last three years.

There was one axe, one baton, six blades, one improvised weapon, 36 knives, one multi-tool, one pair of scissors and four unidentified.

Of those cases three resulted in there being no line of enquiry, two resulted in charges, 15 were dealt with by way of community resolution and seven resulted in evidential difficulties.

Ten resulted in there being no public interest for further investigation, one was delegated to another agency, two could not be prosecuted because not prosecuted because the suspect identified was below the age of criminal responsibility and eight suspects were given youth cautions.

A police spokesman sad: “Too many families have been affected by knife crime with even one person being stabbed being one too many. The consequences of carrying and using a knife can be devastating and potentially life-threatening.

“I would appeal directly to people that if you know someone who is carrying a knife, don’t keep silent. Report it.

“The law is simple - it is illegal to carry a knife, even if it belongs to someone else.

“Anyone who is found carrying a knife and is intending to use it as a weapon – even in self-defence can be arrested, go to court and receive a police record or even a prison sentence of up to four years and an unlimited fine.”

Lancashire Constabulary has a zero tolerance policy toward possession of knives in public and we take reports of knife crime very seriously. We will act on all intelligence received in a bid to prevent people losing loved ones and to detain those who intend to commit acts of violence using knives.

“If you have information about the possession of knives or offensive weapons or criminal activity relating to this type of crime, make a report online via the Lancashire Constabulary website.”

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead, said although incidents are rare, forces are seeing a small number of offences on school premises involving weapons.