A SAMURAI sword and stash of knives have been found or given to police as part of a lifesaving amnesty.

Police community support officers have been searching Widnes and Runcorn for weapons as part of Operation Sceptre.

A Stanley knife was found in Victoria Park during the hunt.

Cheshire Police are supporting a national initiative to help take knives off the street and educate people about the dangers of carrying weapons.

Cheshire has one of the lowest rates of knife crime in England.

Chief inspector Sarah Heath, the force’s knife crime lead, said: “When people carry knives it is only a matter of time before someone suffers life changing injuries or is killed, and if you carry a knife then you are much more likely to be involved in a knife crime.

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“Our goal is to achieve weapons-free streets throughout the county and we endeavour – through education, awareness and action – to make Cheshire an area where no-one carries a knife or feels that there is a reason to do so.”