Just under 2,000 firearms were surrendered to Sussex Police during a month-long amnesty.

More than half were handed over in the final week of April and of the 1,997 total, 286 were prohibited weapons, including handguns. More than 32,000 rounds of ammunition were also given up.

Assistant Chief Constable Geoff Williams said: "The significant number of weapons surrendered in the last week was due to effective media coverage, which encouraged members of the public to hand in weapons, as well as police officers making collections from people's homes and final collections of firearms across the force area.

"Sussex Police has been impressed by the response from the public and their obvious support for the amnesty.

"The public has heeded the warnings from the police to surrender firearms before new legislation is introduced. The amnesty is one of a number of police initiatives to ensure we continue to keep gun crime under control in Sussex.

"The next stage will be enforcement and police will be gathering intelligence and executing warrants.

"The force will continue to accept firearms and shotguns. People can go to their nearest police station and explain the circumstances that they came into possession of the firearm.

"In many cases, these are found as a result of house clearances when members of the family pass away."

The firearms surrendered will be inspected and some may be forensically examined. A representative from the Museum Consortium will be visiting Sussex to decide if any of the weapons should be offered to UK museums or to the Forensic Science Museum.

Remaining weapons will be sent to a foundry where they will be melted down and made into steel reinforcement rods for the construction industry.

During the last amnesty in 1996, 873 firearms were surrendered. The latest campaign resulted in a 56 per cent increase.

Worthing police station received the most guns, 416.

Others were: Bexhill, 88; Brighton, 234; Chichester, 207; Crawley, 330; Eastbourne, 235; Hastings, 192; Haywards Heath, 186 and Uckfield, 109.

Mr Williams urged anyone with knowledge of someone holding onto firearms to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.