A sword shop which sparked a police weapons amnesty has closed.

Police raided the store in Crabtree Arcade, Lancing, in January and seized an array of deadly-looking knives, swords and daggers.

The owner, Malcolm Beith, 49, from Hove, was arrested and he remains on bail pending further inquiries.

Police responded with a month-long weapons amnesty which ended at midnight last night.

Police hailed the campaign as a success and they are now planning another later in the year.

Operation Surrender, backed by Tim Loughton, East Worthing and Shoreham MP, invited members of the public to hand in offensive and dangerous items to Lancing and Shoreham police stations in a bid to clear the streets of bladed weapons.

Dozens of knives, daggers and even a spear were handed in.

Inspector Howard Hodges, who led the operation, said: "We are delighted with the response from the public and the support we have received from the community.

"We want to clear the streets of these weapons, many of which could be deadly if they fell into the wrong hands. The Sword Shop has now ceased trading.

"My intention was only ever to encourage and ensure responsible trading. The sign in the shop stated that it had closed due to adverse publicity, which I think is a clear message that to most sensible people any such weapons are both dangerous and unnecessary."

Mr Hodges said it was possible Mr Beith was continuing to trade through another outlet or the internet.

He said he was pleased the sale of the weapons had stopped for the safety of the public but said it was never his intention to force the shop's closure. Mr Beith was unavailable for comment.

His former shop in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, was raided in 2004 when he agreed with stop selling ball-bearing guns.

He told The Argus in January that none of his knives then were deemed illegal in 2004 when he was praised by officers for his responsible attitude.

Mr Beith insisted he was entitled to market the copy knives, push daggers, throwing knives and swords that police confiscated.

The father of three said: "It's all a misunderstanding.

"These items are not tempered or sharpened like the real thing - you could find more deadly weapons in kitchen drawers."

The police investigation is focusing on the Knife Act of 1997 which proclaims it unlawful to market a knife deemed suitable for combat or was "otherwise likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour involving the use of the knife as a weapon".

Offenders face a maximum £500 fine or six months in prison on summary conviction or two years and heavier fines if convicted on indictment at crown court.

The act stated it was a defence if it is proved the weapon is an antique or curio, or "there were no reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person into whose possession the knife might come would use it for an unlawful purpose."

Mr Beith, a battle re-enactment enthusiast, said he did not sell to under 18s or anyone looking suspicious but to film buffs and battle devotees. He said he recently enlisted the help of two beat police in putting up a sign in his shop window warning customers to keep purchases covered up while carrying them in public.

He said: "I'm not being hammered by police on this issue but by residents who don't understand what my shop is about. These are just decorative ornaments."

He said dozens of shops and websites round the country sold identical items: "Why have they picked on me?"

Mr Beith closed his Hove shop and opened the Lancing outlet three months ago. He said he ultimately wanted to return to the Hove area.

He insisted he was a businessman carrying out a legitimate trade.

He said: "My ornaments are made to look pretty, not to be sharp or strong. If I was to equip an army with these items they would be on the wrong end of the greatest military massacre in history."