Two-day amnesty attracts weapons

Danny Marsh was visiting his grandmother when he died

A two-day gun amnesty in Newport following a teenager's death from an air rifle wound has been welcomed as " absolutely fantastic".

Danny Marsh, 17, was shot in the Maesglas area of the city last month.

He died in a "tragic accident" said police but family and friends asked for the amnesty to take place.

Among the weapons handed in at Maesglas Community Centre were 10 air rifles, a crossbow and imitation hand gun and various ammunition.

Pc Richie Oakerbee, neighbourhood officer for Maesglas, said: "The amnesty has been absolutely fantastic.

"We are delighted with the results.

Weapons handed in included 10 air rifles 4 air pistols 2 BB guns 1 blanks firing pistol and ammunition 1 hunting knife 1 imitation handgun 3 boxes of air gun pellets 1 crossbow

"The community has really come together to make this amnesty work, but it is clear the message that air guns are dangerous has hit home across Newport as we have had weapons handed in from different areas of the city too.

"I would like to thank people who have brought their weapons in because they have done their bit to avoid another tragedy happening in the city."

Speaking before the gun amnesty took place, Danny's father Ian, 45, said: "We are still feeling very raw about this tragedy, but we want to stress how important this amnesty is.

"It's a brilliant idea and I would urge anybody who has an air gun to hand it in so nobody else gets hurt.

"If these weapons fall into the wrong hands then we have all seen what can happen.

Safer place

"It's still hard to believe our son is not here with us and my wife and I are in full support of this amnesty. It can only make Newport a safer place," he added.

Neighbourhood sergeant Colin Thomas added: "It is a little sad that it's taken such a tragic incident to highlight that people have so many air guns that are not needed.

"But as Danny Marsh's family have said, if there is some good to come out of the tragedy then it is that the incident has raised awareness as to how dangerous these weapons can be."

Danny suffered a ruptured artery in his chest after a pellet entered his body. The officer leading the inquiry into his death said it appeared to have been a "tragic accident".