A HUGE knife was discovered after being dumped on a busy greensward.

The 12-inch blade was uncovered near the Birch Glenn estate in Berechurch, Colchester, by a woman and her son as they walked through.

They contacted Essex Police and ward councillor Dave Harris who collected the weapon.

Officers ran checks and found no recent knife-related crime in the vicinity and advised that is should be deposited in the amnesty bin.

Mr Harris said he was deeply concerned at the knife being left in a potentially dangerous position.

“It was a foot-long and it doesn’t look like a bog-standard kitchen knife,” he said.

“Even if it is then it should not be left outside.

“It was as sharp as anything and there was a real risk it could have been found by an animal or a really young child.

“The police ran checks and said it should be put in the amnesty bin – that is a really good initiative.

“If there had been a crime in the area then they would have taken it for forensic and evidential purposes.”

Colchester has seen a rise in the possession of weapons.

In the year ending September 2019, there were 170 weapon possession offences in Colchester - an increase of 19 per cent compared to the previous 12 months.

Mr Harris said there needed to be a societal change towards knife crime.

“There are some really good campaigns nationally and locally but the message just doesn’t seem to be getting through,” he added.

“We have to do something which is strong and steadfast.

“Knife crime can be devastating for the person who gets hurt but also for the family of the perpetrator who can end up wasting their lives for doing something so stupid.

“It is so sad some young people think they have to arm themselves in case somebody else is and they get into a confrontation.

“It says a lot that we are not surprised when people are stabbed anymore. There needs to a be a change.

“Hardly a week goes by when we don’t read of an injury or death due to knife crime in this country.

“I want to make a plea to people across our area to heed the police and neighbourhood watch messages to never take blades of any sort on the street.

“Knife crime shatters lives, families and makes victims of us all in the community.”

“My advice to parents from me is to talk to young people and make sure they know this incident has happened and to stress the wrong of knives being carried wherever.”