MORE than 1,000 deadly knives have been taken off the streets of East Lancashire as the result of the police blades amnesty.

The figure was announced today at the end of the national, month-long amnesty set up after the fatal stabbing of headmaster Philip Lawrence.

Lancashire's Chief Constable, Pauline Clare, revealed that 1,064 blades were put into bins left at police stations across the county between December 20 and January 20.

They included 98 at Accrington, 98 at Rawtenstall, 81 at Colne, 41 at Burnley and 25 at Blackburn.

The Chief Constable and local campaign co-ordinator, Insp Andy Lang, were due to give further details during a press conference at force headquarters in Hutton. Sealed bins from around the county were taken to headquarters and opened yesterday. The blades recovered ranged from small household knives to the horrifying Gurkha blade handed in at Blackburn police station before the official amnesty had begun.

The amnesty was arranged by Chief Constables throughout England and Wales and backed by Home Secretary Michael Howard.

There have been several killings and violent incidents across East Lancashire in the last 12 months.

But at the launch of the campaign police assured people they would not be questioned if they handed in a weapon.

When a amnesty was launched a police spokesman said: "By reducing the number of knives in circulation we are aiming to reduce the seriousness of the incidents."

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