DEADLY throwing knives, a collection of ceremonial daggers and a sword were part of a stash of weapons dumped at an Oxfordshire tip.

Thames Valley Police officers have issued a warning about how to safely dispose of dangerous knives after discovering the collection at Ardley.

The haul included nine weighted throwing knives with double-edged blades, a sword with a two-foot blade, seven Egyptian-themed daggers and a locking knife.

Neighbourhood sergeant Steve Birchall said police were called on Wednesday by a member of the public who had discovered the knives left at the side of the tip. Mr Birchall said the knives could have ended up in the wrong hands by being left in a public place rather than handed into a police station.

He said: "They have got the right idea, if you don't want to be in possession of these things at home we want you to get rid of them - but hand them into the police station and we will take them out of circulation.

"The last thing someone who has handed them in would like to know is they have gone into circulation.

"To be in possession of things such as these away from your home is an offence for which you will be arrested.

"We take possession of knives and bladed articles extremely seriously.

"Nobody has any reason to be in possession of those throwing knives."

The knives will be melted down and destroyed by police.

Area beat officer PC Richie Iwanoff added: "There's very little knife crime in Bicester.

"If you have got some to get rid of, take them to the police station and we will destroy them."

Last summer, a machete, a dagger, several flick knives and a sword were just a selection of the 41 bladed weapons handed into Bicester Police Station during a national knife amnesty.

The five-week amnesty saw 1,838 weapons handed in across the county.