FAKE guns and an obscure range of dangerous weapons are piling up at police stations across Redbridge as Operation Handover gets under way.

The operation was launched by the Met Police last week to highlight new laws.

People can now be jailed for 12 months for carrying an imitation weapon and it is illegal to buy, sell, manufacture or import fake guns.

Officers said they were impressed by the borough's response to the London-wide bogus firearms amnesty which has already seen 13 imitation handguns and ten rounds of ammunition surrendered to police.

In addition they have received three real handguns and three black revolvers, a wooden club with nails in it, a pair of nunchucks, two 3ft swords and a 30cm knife as well as a decorative knife, gun-shaped wall ornaments, a whip and a crossbow.

Inspector David Hay said: "We were looking for things to start kicking off next week, so we have been very pleased. "It highlights the fact that this is a genuine issue.

"There are very realistic firearms out there in the community and we are very keen for them to come back into safe hands."

Just three months ago, armed robber Neville Knight was sentenced to life in prison for a £25,000 security van robbery outside Barclays Bank in George Lane, South Woodford.

Last year alone there were 3,455 gun crimes across London and 60 in Redbridge, including a terrifying armed attack on a woman in Cranbrook Road and an armed robbery in Woodford Industrial Estate which saw workers diving for cover and ammunition left scattered across the street.

Imitation firearms account for 50 per cent of gun-enabled crime in London, and people are invited to anonymously surrender their weapons at any London police station until February 17.

Although the surrender is for fake firearms, police will accept all types of weapons.

Insp Hay said: "People do have lots of samurai swords and other weapons in private collections, but they often get into the wrong hands.

"If you have such a collection, do the right thing and bring them in."