Forty knives have been handed in anonymously over the past two-and-a-half months via 'amnesty bins' dotted around towns.

The joint project between the police and Thanet District Council was launched in an effort to curb knife crime and offer a safe place for blade-carriers to rid themselves of weapons without punishment.

The four, distinctive orange bins have been placed in Margate high street, Edgar Road in Cliftonville, and Ramsgate train station and Albion Hill.

Installed at the end of March, they were organised as part of Operation Sceptre, a nationwide initiative set up to tackle knife crime.

So far, 29 blades were retrieved from the bins on the first collection and a further 11 on the second.

Since the start of the project, the force has also carried out test purchases in shops and conducted sweeps of parks to search for weapons that may be hidden or discarded in undergrowth.

Deputy council leader Helen Whitehead said: "Knife crime ruins lives. People carry knives for all kinds of reasons and these amnesty bins offer a no questions asked route to giving them up.

"I would personally urge anyone who is carrying a knife, or knows someone else who is doing so to stop and think about the possible consequences. The amnesty bins are there specifically for you to dispose of the weapon safely."

Following the successful project, the orange bins could be moved to other locations in the district.

Inspector Dan Carter, from the Thanet community safety unit, said: “Any knife handed in to us is one which cannot be used in crime and I am pleased with the number of weapons which have been removed from the streets of Thanet.

“Levels of knife crime in Kent remain low compared to other parts of the country, but Kent Police is not complacent and is committed to tackling knife crime and removing dangerous weapons from our communities.

“We will continue to work with our partners to tackle the issue, bring offenders to justice and challenge the culture that leads to people carrying knives.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet