A woman who found a large kitchen knife in the middle of a road said she was appalled that police were just "not interested".

The discovery on Epsom Downs yesterday came as police issued a public appeal after a man was threatened with a knife in Banstead on election night.

Police appeal - Muggers threaten man with knife on election night in Banstead

Tegan Sexton, 30, from Dorking, said her husband spotted the six to eight inch knife near the roundabout on Grandstand Road at about 1.40pm.

Mrs Sexton said: "He said ‘oh my goodness, there’s a massive knife on the floor’. It could have been used in a crime or someone could come and pick it up."

The worried couple pulled into the next lay-by and immediately called the police on 101.

The operator initially said a patrol car would collect it, but then rang back and said "it’s not a police issue and it can stay there".

Mrs Sexton said: "It was such a shock. To think all the children would be coming out of school and there’s a massive knife lying there. I was gobsmacked."

Your Local Guardian:

Tegan Sexton and her husband Kenneth at the spot where the knife was found

Fearing that someone else could be attacked using the knife, the couple went back to fetch it using gloves.

They put it in a plastic bag and took it to the police station in Dorking where they were told it would be destroyed.

Later that day police called back again to say actually there was a patrol car in the area, but by that time the knife was already gone.

She said police were "not interested" in the knife discovery, adding: "I think this is disgusting. It could have been used in a crime or even be picked up and a new crime committed.

"They are meant to be cutting down on knife crime, what example does it set? It’s disappointing, really disappointing."

PS Mike Mann, from the Reigate and Banstead Safer Neighbourhood Team, said anyone who finds a dangerous item in a public space should call the police for advice. 

He said: "On this occasion officers were not initially available to attend and pick up the knife.

"However a local officer went to the location a short time later but the member of the public had already taken it to a local police station.

“The public’s safety is our number one priority and we have to deploy our resources accordingly as on average we receive more than 1,500 calls a day in our contact centre, with approximately 300 of those being 999 calls.”

Your Local Guardian:

Tegan Sexton's husband Kenneth at the spot where the knife was found

On election night in Banstead, two men went up to a man, asked for his mobile phone and chased after him when he fled between 10.20pm and 10.35pm.

After attacking him and threatening him with a knife, the muggers ran up a stairwell in parade of shops in Bolters Lane. The men were about 19 or 20 years old and wore grey hoodies.

Police have issued an appeal and asked anyone who has information or saw the attack to come forward. 

Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101, quoting 451500037876, or visit https://my.surrey.police.uk/splonlinereportingweb

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.