A farmer has surrendered a mini-arsenal to Sussex Police as part of a weapons' amnesty.

The haul comprised a .22 pump action rifle, a .22 rifle, two miniature snub pistols and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Police said many farmers held weapons but in this case most were part of a small collection the farmer felt was safer in the hands of police. Two more rifles were handed in at Lewes police on the same day.

Inspector Dave Padwick said: "The amnesty is a good opportunity for farmers in the rural area to surrender any weapons which are either unwanted or unlicensed."

The number of firearms surrendered in Sussex now stands at 667 and includes a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a 1915 semi-automatic Becker and Hollander plus BB guns and air weapons.

Assistant Chief Constable Geoff Williams said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response from the people across Sussex."

The amnesty runs throughout April, in advance of new legislation which will make it an arrestable offence to possess a replica firearm or air weapon in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

"There will be a minimum five-year sentence for illegal possession of a firearm.

Sussex Police are accepting imitation or air weapons as well as firearms at Bexhill, Brighton, Chichester, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings, Haywards Heath, Uckfield and Worthing police stations.