POLICE officials have praised the efforts of the mid Cheshire public to rid the region's streets of dangerous weapons.

A five-week national campaign, which ends on June 30, has so far seen items such as samurai swords, machetes and hunting knives handed over in the area and Asst Ch Con David Baines is happy with the response.

He said: "In the first week alone the public placed 372 knives, blades and other weapons into the amnesty bins based at various locations around the area.

"Each item handed in means one less knife or blade on the street that could potentially be used to commit crime.

"We want to encourage as many people as possible to be community minded by taking these weapons off our streets. Taking these weapons out of circulation can help to protect those people closest to you from becoming a victim or offending because they are routinely carrying a blade."

The public can surrender knives without penalty until the end of the month but anyone found carrying a weapon with a blade of more than 3in after then could be imprisoned and fined £5,000.

Weapons should be wrapped in appropriate material during transportation.

Stephanie McAleer, whose son Gavin was fatally stabbed with a double bladed weapon in a Middlewich pub, endorsed the campaign.

She said: "Our family is painfully aware of the consequences of someone carrying a knife.

"There is no reason for anyone to routinely carry a knife. We have been collecting signatures to get the particular weapon used to kill Gavin banned and would welcome any letters of support to be forwarded to local MPs."