An American Civil War enthusiast surrendered his prized collection of replica guns after discovering he could end up in jail.

He handed in two replica Winchester rifles and nine replica handguns, all capable of firing air pellets.

The retired care worker had built up his collection of authentic-looking weapons, worth more than £5,000, over 20 years.

He was unaware gun laws which came into effect in January made it an offence to own them.

The collector, from Portslade, said: "Although I have been collecting them for 20 years I have not been into a gun shop or read a collectors' magazine for years. I was horrified when I discovered I could now be sent to prison for five years for possessing them so I took them to Hove police station.

"The collection was purely for my own personal pleasure and never left the house. There are about 70,000 of these guns in the hands of collectors, worth about £20 million.

"Having to give them up is bad enough but the most worrying thing is that, like me, many collectors will be completely ignorant of the change in the law. Most will have no idea they could be sent to prison for five years for what is a hobby.

"I am thinking of writing to Ivor Caplin to ask him to support a campaign to allow responsibly held collections to remain legal."

The guns use air cartridges to fire pellets but their barrels and chambers can easily be converted to fire real bullets.

The Government ordered a change in the law after a dramatic increase in shootings and other crimes involving converted air weapons.