BINS have been placed in police stations across Sedgemoor as the force gears up for the nationwide knife amnesty, which starts tomorrow (Wednesday).

The move aims to highlight the dangers of carrying bladed weapons in the community, and promote public safety.

It also hopes to encourage people to come forward and provide information about people who are using knives illegally.

Assistant chief constable Steve Mortimore said: "The amnesty has a clear point to make and that is that carrying knives is not acceptable.

"This is an opportunity for people to safely dispose of them along with other bladed weapons, and to play their part in helping to make our streets safer."

Avon and Somerset officers have created a shortlist messages that the amnesty puts across: If you carry a knife out of self-defence, you run the risk of having it turned on you.

The national amnesty is just one tactic the Government and police are using to prevent knife crime and make communities safer Every weapon handed in during the amnesty will be a weapon that cannot be used in crime Carrying a knife is illegal and won't be tolerated. It can land you with up to four years in prison.

However, if you bin your knife at a police station during the amnesty, you will not be prosecuted.

Intelligence-led enforcement operations will continue as normal during the amnesty.

Last year there were 2,500 incidents in the Avon and Somerset force area in which knives were mentioned, compared to 2,449 the previous year.

A bin has been installed in Bridgwater police station ready for the start of the amnesty.