National Gun Surrender in London: 3,859 rounds of ammunition and 143 firearms handed in during first week, including 49 air weapons and nine revolvers

Nearly 4,000 rounds of ammunition and 143 firearms, including two machine guns and 49 air weapons, have been handed over to Metropolitan Police in just one week.

More than 20 guns were handed in every day of the National Gun Surrender's first week, including two machine guns, 49 air weapons, 31 shotguns, 23 imitation guns and 11 pistols.

On top of that, 10 handguns, nine revolvers, six rifles and five automatic guns were also given up.

A staggering 3,859 rounds of potentially fatal ammunition were taken off London's streets in just seven days.

The force, in partnership with the City of London, launched the two-week gun surrender project on November 13 as it tries to reduce gun crime in the capital.

Detective Superintendent Mike Balcombe, of Metropolitan Police's Trident and Area Crime Command, urged anyone else in possession of a firearm to hand it in.

“We are very pleased with the public response to the first week of the gun surrender,” he said.

“Every firearm handed to police makes the city safer as it prevents them from falling into the hands of criminals.

“The Met's Trident unit is committed to reducing gun crime in the capital and I would urge anyone else who is in possession of an illegal firearm to visit their local 24-hour police station during the final days of the gun surrender.”

The National Gun Surrender, which will last two weeks, comes after Metropolitan Police revealed the number of gun-related crime in London has risen by 41% since 2015.

In west London alone, there have been a number of incidents involving guns over the last six months, including a fatal shooting in Kilburn and a shooting in Twickenham .

The most recent fatality came on Saturday November 11 following a shooting in Southall .

Throughout the surrender project, firearms can be handed in at any of the force's 24-hour police stations, or Bishopsgate Police Station in the City of London.

People have been encouraged to hand in their guns up until the Sunday November 27 deadline.

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