MORE than 80 knives have been handed in in Redditch as part of a campaign aiming to reduce knife crime.

82 knives were surrendered in the town as part of an initiative run in the Warwickshire and West Mercia policing area, more than double any other town in the county.

Running throughout July and August it was part of the national "save a life, surrender your knife" campaign.

It gave anyone carrying a knife the opportunity to surrender it anonymously at surrender bins.

Superintendent Daryn Elton said: "We're pleased to see that so many people have taken the opportunity to surrender their knife and make the streets safer for everyone. Every one of the knives surrendered represents one less opportunity for another life to be lost or ruined to knife crime.

"While this particular initiative has finished we will continue to remind people of the dangers of carrying a knife and take action against those who choose to do so."

The knives from Redditch, as well as others from around the county, have gone to the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry where they will be used to create a 26 foot knife angel to spread awareness of the impact of knife crime.

Clive Knowles, from the centre, said the latest delivery of knives gets them that bit closer to reaching 100,000.

"West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police have been a huge support since the very beginning of our campaign," he said.