City's guns make peace fountain

"Something good can come from evil" - Dep Chief Con Alan Green

More than 2,000 guns used in serious crime on Greater Manchester's streets have been flown to the US where they will be made into a peace fountain.

The weapons will be melted down to create blocks for the fountain which will be erected in Ohio.

The aim is to create a symbol of peace out of decommissioned arms from countries all over the world.

Greater Manchester Police deputy chief constable Alan Green hosted a ceremony to destroy the weapons.

He said: "This method of destroying firearms, once they are not required for court, is not unusual for us and not normally something we publicise for security reasons.

"However, this is an exception as it is great that something good can come out of something evil."

The completion date for the statue is planned for 11 September 2006.