FIREARMS and other offensive weapons surrendered in a bid to stamp out violent crime in Gwent will today be melted down at the Corus steelworks, Port Talbot.

In total, 337 firearms, 8,000 rounds of ammunition and 18 other weapons were surrendered in Gwent during the national firearms amnesty in April.

Chief Inspector Peter Fouweather, Gwent Police's liaison officer for the amnesty, said: "The purpose of the amnesty was to remove from circulation as many firearms, rounds of ammunition and other weapons as possible.

"It was a success nationally and this was reflected in the response in the Gwent Police area.

"These weapons which have been effectively removed from circulation no longer pose any potential threat to the people of Gwent or elsewhere and our communities are safer because of that. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who co-operated so fully with the amnesty. Those guns are off the streets and we are all safer as a result."