Armed criminals are being invited to hand over their guns at Bradford police stations with the promise they will not face prosecution.

Special drop-off bins will appear at specified sites in the city as part of a nationwide firearms amnesty running throughout next month.

Offenders are being given a last chance to give up their weapons before the introduction of tough new laws which will see anyone caught with an illegal firearm serving at least five years in jail.

The Government is desperate to halt the development of Britain's gun culture in which youngsters casually carry firearms, viewing them as "fashion accessories".

As previously revealed in the Telegraph & Argus, the amnesty will follow a national gun crime summit hosted by West Yorkshire this month when the country's police top brass, Home Office officials and other crime-fighting agencies will meet to draw up anti-gun crime strategies.

The conference aims to halt the worrying rise of firearms offences nationally, a situation which is mirrored in Bradford.

In the year 2000 to 2001 there were 442 gun crimes in the district, up 25 on the previous 12 months.

Although these included two killings, 335 involved air weapons with 299 being criminal damage offences.

West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Cramp-horn said the force's own Safeguard amnesty, which took scores of guns, imitation firearms and other weapons off the streets, had formed the "template" for the national scheme.

"Tackling gun culture is crucial in the fight against crime and we have had notable success on this front through sustained major operations," he added.

Announcing the scheme, Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth said: "Perhaps the most disturbing element of changing gun use is the casual carrying of firearms, predominantly by young people.

"We need to act now to show that this is unacceptable and to stop the development of a 'gun culture'."

And he said: "People on the fringes of gang life and parents worried that their children might be involved with guns should act now."

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, of Bradford North Police, said: "Any initiative which helps to get guns off our streets has to be a good thing.

"People must realise the very serious consequences if they are caught with firearms - whether they are for criminal use or an old war relic stored in a loft."