South Yorkshire Police has announced that over 40 blank firing guns have been handed into the force during a one month amnesty period.

The initiative, which took place over February, was part of a nationwide appeal led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Detective Inspector Claire Moss, of South Yorkshire’s Armed Crime Team, said: “I would like to thank everyone who has helped make South Yorkshire a safer place by handing over these blank firers.

“Over the last two years, these types of firearms make up a significant proportion of discharges and recoveries in our patch.”

A total of 45 firearms were handed in to police stations in all four districts of South Yorkshire .

All the guns handed in classified as venting blank firers (TVBFs), a type of firearm which can be converted to fire live ammunition.

TVBFs were made illegal under the Firearms Act 1982.