SEVENTEEN guns were handed in at Bury during a firearms amnesty conducted by GMP.

Only Rochdale and Manchester divisions received fewer weapons during the two week long surrender where the highest number were registered in Tameside and Trafford.

Forfeited items across Greater Manchester included a replica AK-47 assault rifle, a crossbow, an antique gun, sport rifles, replica handguns, heirloom trophies of war, Wild West-style bandoliers containing cartridges, and gas-powered pistols.

Jim Battle, the deputy police and crime commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: "The message has got out and we have had more than 221 guns handed in and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

"There's been a significant response from the public. Citizens have recognised they are better off without these guns and bullets in their home, and we congratulate the media for helping us publicise this campaign."

Every gun will be inspected by GMP specialists and those that raise suspicions will be sent away for forensics testing to see if it can be linked to any shootings or weapon-fuelled incidents in the region.

Assistant Chief Constable John O'Hare said the force was very pleased with the reaction from the public and the number of firearms taken off the streets, which is likely to exceed the total acquired in the last amnesty.

He said: "You get lots of replicas that people have bought legally.

"People buy them for all sorts of reasons, as ornaments, as antiques and to appreciate the engineering, and what tends to happen is that people's lives changes - they move house or have children or grandchildren or they're getting on a bit - and the circumstances mean it's not something you want around any more.

"They can be activated with some engineering know how and they may not be as powerful or as accurate as the real thing but anything with a trigger mechanism and a barrel could be reactivated.

"There is nothing that has been surrendered that you wouldn't think isn't capable of shooting you.

"My firearms officers would not be able to tell the different at first sight and would have to make a split-second decision.

"Don't be surprised or lulled into a false sense of security by the size or age of some of this weaponry."

Mr O'Hare said among the haul was a derringer pistol that was probably more than 100 years old and was accompanied by handmade lead shots.

He said the most popular weapon handed in was a replica semi-automatic pistol, the kind most commonly used in hold-ups and to intimidate people because they are easily concealable, reasonably easy to access and look realistic.

He said: "The ammunition surrendered is primary 9mm rounds and shotgun cartridges."

Mr Battle added: "The most surprising thing was the amount of ammunition that people brought in.

"Not only have we had ammunition and weapons but there's a continual flow of information that comes into the police as well, which gives GMP the opportunity to carry out further investigations and make more arrests.

"The job is still going on to take down criminals who use violence in Greater Manchester."

The amnesty, called Give Up The Gun and run between April 4 and Monday, (Apr 18) was held in conjunction with the other North West police forces.

Residents in Merseyside yielded 140 weapons, Lancashire 139, North Wales 91, Cheshire 127 and Cumbria 93 to make a regional total of more than 800 guns out of the hands of the public.