LANCASHIRE Police collected more than 1,000 dangerous knives from the public in a month-long amnesty in a bid to wipe out street violence.

The weapons were anonymously delivered to police stations across the county and included 51 machetes, 34 bayonets and two air pistols.

Preston and Leyland police collected 208 knives in the amnesty, prompted by the tragic death of London headmaster Philip Lawrence who was knifed to death by a gang of schoolchildren.

Lancashire's Chief Constable Pauline Clare described the response of the public as 'extremely good'.

She said: "We have to discourage the growth of a knife culture which makes people, especially young people, believe they need to carry knives for self-defence."

And she went on: "Campaigns such as these provide an opportunity for the police and public to join forces in an effort to make the streets and communities safer by working together.

"The campaign to rid our streets of danger goes on."

During the address, Mrs Clare cited the case of a pensioner who spotted a knife at a car boot sale and bought it for £8 specifically to take it off the streets and hand it over to the police.

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