A gun disguised as a walking stick was among weapons handed in to Croydon police station during a two-week firearms amnesty.

The bizarre weapon was one of six live firearms, five air rifles and an imitation gun surrendered to officers this month.

A rifle and a shotgun were also among the weapons handed over.

The Metropolitan Police's campaign, designed to take lethal weapons off the street and out of the hands of gangs, ended on Sunday night.

During the fortnight, those surrendering firearms did not face prosecution and could remain anonymous.

A total of 347 guns, all of which will be forensically examined by police, were handed in across London. Many of the weapons were antiques.

Your Local Guardian:

A gun disguised as a walking stick was handed in to Croydon police

On November 10, counter-terrorism officers were called to Sutton police station after an 80-year-old handed in a World War Two mortar shell that had been sitting on his family's mantel piece for ten years.

Detective chief inspector Gary Bruce, who heads up the Trident gang crime unit, said: "The surrender has led to a significant number of lethal-barrelled weapons and ammunition being taken off the streets, preventing them from falling into the hands of criminals, in particular gang members, and helping to further reduce gun crime in the capital.

"We have seen a substantial number of antique or 'granddad guns' handed in. Ultimately these firearms are live weapons and can be used to kill or injure someone."

Around a quarter of the weapons surrendered will be further investigated by police to establish if they have been involved in crime, while those with antique value will be donated to museums, collections and Leeds Armoury. The rest will be destroyed.