A MONTH-LONG firearms amnesty is to be held in Bolton as part of a nationwide crackdown on gun crime, police revealed today.

Talks to discuss what format it will take are currently underway but people will be able to hand in both real and replica firearms without leaving their names or addresses.

Police are becoming increasingly concerned regarding the use of ball-bearing firing, replica airguns.

Latest Government figures show that in 84 per cent of crimes where a handgun is used, it is not discharged. Many of those cases are thought to involve replica weapons.

The amnesty will precede new legislation making it an offence to carry a replica firearm or air weapon in public without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

There will also be a new minimum five year jail sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm.

The firearms amnesty was welcomed by Chief Supt Don Brown, Bolton's Divisional Commander.

The last gun amnesty -- held across the North west in September 1997 -- netted a total of 3,411 large calibre guns and a further 943 small bore guns.

Chief Supt Brown said: "The amnesty will be beneficial in the removal of lethal and imitation weapons from all areas of Bolton. One has only to think about past cases where death, serious injury and trauma has been caused by offenders using firearms to appreciate the significance of this amnesty.

"I would urge all people who have a firearm, air weapon or imitation firearm to do the right thing and hand them in."

The Bolton Evening News bought a lethal-looking replica of a Uzi sub machine gun from a stall at Bolton's Ashburner Street Market earlier this year for less than £50. It could only fire plastic pellets but police said it was so realistic it could easily have been used in a robbery.

David McCrone, Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police -- which is playing a leading role in the national crackdown on the availability of firearms -- added: "The amnesty will reduce the availability of firearms of all descriptions, which in turn will result in lives being saved, prevent injuries occurring and spare members of the public the trauma of being threatened with a firearm."

Bolton's firearms amnesty is due to run from March 31 to April 30.

A MONTH-LONG firearms amnesty is to be held in Bolton as part of a nationwide crackdown on gun crime, police have revealed.

Talks to discuss what format it will take are underway but people will be able to hand in both real and replica firearms without leaving their names or addresses.

Police are becoming increasingly concerned regarding the use of ball-bearing firing, replica airguns.

Latest Government figures show that in 84 per cent of crimes where a handgun is used, it is not discharged. Many of those cases are thought to involve replica weapons.

The amnesty will precede new legislation making it an offence to carry a replica firearm or air weapon in public without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

There will also be a new minimum five year jail sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm.

The firearms amnesty was welcomed by Chief Supt Don Brown, Bolton's Divisional Commander.

The last gun amnesty -- held across the North west in September 1997 -- netted a total of 3,411 large calibre guns and a further 943 small bore guns.

Chief Supt Brown said: "The amnesty will be beneficial in the removal of lethal and imitation weapons from all areas of Bolton. One has only to think about past cases where death, serious injury and trauma has been caused by offenders using firearms to appreciate the significance of this amnesty.

"I would urge all people who have a firearm, air weapon or imitation firearm to do the right thing and hand them in."

The Bolton Evening News bought a lethal-looking replica of a Uzi sub machine gun from a stall at Bolton's Ashburner Street Market earlier this year for less than £50.

David McCrone, Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police -- which is playing a leading role in the national crackdown on the availability of firearms -- added: "The amnesty will reduce the availability of firearms of all descriptions, which in turn will result in lives being saved, prevent injuries occurring and spare members of the public the trauma of being threatened with a firearm."

Bolton's firearms amnesty is due to run from March 31 to April 30.