Two shotguns have been recovered where they were found hidden on an abandoned allotment in Sefton yesterday afternoon, Monday 20 June.

At around 2.50pm we received a report that a shotgun was found hidden in the shed of an overgrown allotment on Moorland Avenue in Crosby.

Officers carried out a further search and found another shotgun hidden away.

The single shotgun was shortened at both ends and had a cartridge in the barrel. The other firearm was a double-barrelled shotgun.

The weapons have been made safe and forensically recovered.

Enquiries are currently being carried out.

Detective Inspector John Mullen from the Firearms Investigation Team said: “The allotment hadn’t been used for a while and the allotment holder was clearing the site when they discovered a firearm in the shed.

“Our officers carried out a further search of the site and discovered the second shotgun hidden away.

“Recovering both firearms means that there are two less weapons on our streets which could have been used to cause fear and intimidation in our communities.

“This discovery highlights that criminals will hide weapons in remote places, and even people’s gardens that they think will remain hidden away with no regard that it could end up in a child’s hands and cause serious injury.”

DI Mullen added: “It is important that residents regularly check their gardens to ensure that criminals are not storing weapons on the property.

“We rely on community intelligence to discover where weapons are being stored and who is using them and I would ask that the public continue to be our eyes and ears.

“If you do find anything, don’t touch it but call 101 and we will take it from there.”

If you have got any information about the use or storage of weapons please DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.