A HORRIFIC traditional Ghurka blade was handed in early today at Blackburn police station - before a nationwide knife amnesty had even officially begun.

Police are now bracing themselves for a massive influx of weapons after bins were put out at stations across the county.

The amnesty, which lasts until January 20, has been arranged by Chief Constables and is backed by Home Secretary Michael Howard.

Anyone who dumps weapons in the bins will escape prosecution and will not be questioned by police.

In Blackburn alone there have been several killings and violent incidents involving knives in the last 12 months.

Supt Eddie Walsh said the Gurkha knife seemed to be a wartime trophy, but he added: "If something like this ends up with the wrong people it could cause a great deal of damage.

"This knife could have stayed unused for ten years before falling into the wrong hands.

"But we need to get it off the streets now. We are concerned about violent crime in the town and, by reducing the number of knives in circulation, we are aiming to reduce the seriousness of the incidents which occur."

Meanwhile a shop boss today launched a scathing attack as the amnesty began.

Frank Kay, owner of Framar Hammerli UK, King Street, Blackburn, one of the country's biggest suppliers of military and hunting-style knives blasted: "It is the people holding the knives that the law should be dealing with."

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