150 knives, guns and knuckle-dusters handed into West Midlands Police weapons amnesty

They were handed in to a weapon collection in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton as part of an amnesty.

More than 150 knives, guns and knuckle-dusters have been retrieved by police with bins provided by the Word4Weapons charity.

Images of the shocking haul were released ahead of the launch of a new bin in Aston, Birmingham, today.

The potentially deadly collection was photographed ahead of the launch of a new bin being unveiled at the Aston Lane Tesco.

They were all handed in at bins provided by the charity in Sparkbrook, Edgbaston, Hockley, Lozells, Erdington and Wolverhampton.

The full haul includes 153 knives, a gun, a replica firearm, a live round of ammunition and two knuckle-dusters.

The Edgbaston bin was unveiled in July by the parents of tragic schoolgirl Christina Edkins, Kathleen and Jason Edkins, near to where the 16-year-old was killed in March 2013.

The teenager was fatally stabbed in the chest as she sat on the No 9 bus while travelling to Leasowes High School in Halesowen.

Christina was attacked by paranoid schizophrenic Phillip Simelane, 23, from Walsall, who was later detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: "This latest bin is adding to several installed last year that have more than proven their worth.

"Some of the weapons we have found deposited in the bins were clearly produced to inflict serious injuries.

He added: "This latest bin is adding to several installed last year that have more than proven their worth.

" Some of the weapons we have found deposited in the bins included two firearms, a knuckle duster and an assortment of flick knives, were clearly produced to inflict serious injuries.

"Some of other items such as kitchen knives, saw blades and a syringe have been safely disposed of in the bins and cannot fall into the wrong hands now.

"The bins have given people a place to off-load items, which could have destroyed lives.

"They are being successful because the community wanted them and are working hard to make sure people use them.

"I would like to express my thanks to the organisations that have agreed to host the bins and for everybody who is helping to spread the message that the carrying of weapons is not welcome in our communities.

"It is entirely due to this ground swell of support from the community that the bins have achieved these results."

Mr Jamieson's predecessor, Bob Jones, who died suddenly last year aged 59, had also been a keen campaigner against knife crime.

The former Wolverhampton councillor had helped spearhead plans for the knife amnesty while he was police and crime commissioner.

Kathleen Harris, mother of Christina Edkins, added: "When I helped to launch the knife bin in Edgbaston, I said that if only one knife was put in the bin, it would potentially be a life saved.

"Each knife that has been recovered represents a possible tragedy that has been stopped from happening.

"It is up to everybody in the community to take responsibility and make sure that we continue to spread the message to dispose of knives safely before more people end up having to suffer the awful consequences."

Mike Smith, from Word4Weapons, said: "People have taken a positive decision to dispose of these weapons safely and by doing so, may have made the best decision of their lives.