Take your guns to Rotherham police station

It runs from Saturday until midnight on Sunday, August 4, and aims to clear communities of weapons by allowing their safe disposal.

Det Insp Marie Bulmer, from South Yorkshire Police, said: “When a gun falls into the wrong hands the damage can be devastating and lifelong. 

“This is your chance to help make sure there are fewer weapons on our streets.

“I urge anyone who has a firearm being kept illegally to hand it in to your nearest police station, this can be done anonymously. 

“One weapon off the streets is one less that can be used to harm people in our communities.”

Other stations in the region are Snig Hill, Ecclesfield and Moss Way in Sheffield; Churchfield in Barnsley; and College Road, Doncaster.

A force spokesman said: “We advise that anyone travelling to a police station to surrender their firearm do so in a responsible manner. 

“Please carry the firearm unloaded and in a bag. If you are having difficulty in taking your firearm to your local station please call 101 for assistance.”

Anyone dropping off firearms will not face action for the illegal possession. But the surrender does not provide immunity from prosecution for the life of the weapon — it the gun was used in a crime, this will be investigated.