Two Second World War machine guns are among 143 firearms that have been turned over to police in the first week of a national gun surrender.

Metropolitan Police have been handed 143 guns since the two-week surrender launched on November 13, and have also received nine revolvers, 48 air weapons and five automatic guns, which includes the two Second World War machine guns which have been deactivated.

Other guns to be handed in across London are 31 shotguns, 23 imitation guns, 11 pistols, 10 handguns, six rifles and 3,859 rounds of ammunition.

Detective Superintendent Mike Balcombe, of the Met's Trident and Area Crime Command, said: “We are very pleased with the public response to the first week of the gun surrender. Every firearm handed in 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.”

Guns can be handed in at any of the Metropolitan Police's 24-hour police stations during the gun amnesty, which ends on November 27.

Anyone with information about someone who they believe is in possession of an illegal gun should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.