A KNIFE-amnesty bin will be set up in Witham to help tackle violent crime.

The town's neighbourhood watch group is set to team up with Witham Town Council to launch the scheme, which offers residents the chance to dispose of knives and bladed objects anonymously.

Amnesty bins have been set up in town's across the UK to discourage knife crime and allow people to dispose of weapons without repercussions.

Tina Townsend who helps run Witham Neighbourhood Watch says funding still needs to be secured but she is hopeful it will be agreed in the near future.

She said: "I am 100 per cent behind this. It's a brilliant idea even though people may not think it is needed in the town.

"We don't think there is excessive knife crime in Witham but we want to make sure we tackle any issues there might be. Everyone is aware of the impact county lines drug dealing is having on towns outside London and we don't want to be dragged into it.

"It's a great way to encourage people not to carry knives and helps remind youngsters its not a cool thing to do."

Witham Town Council agreed to back the scheme following a community committee meeting last week.

The authority says greater visible policing and increased safety measures are already having a positive impact in the town and it hopes the introduction of an amnesty bin will help improve safety.

Leader Michael Lager said: "The knife bin is intended to make our town safer for all and I appeal to youngsters in particular to get rid of any blades for their own safety.

"We don't want what's happening in London and other cities in Witham."

A location for the bin has not yet been decided but somewhere within the Newlands Shopping Centre has been suggested.

Mrs Townsend believes the amnesty bin will also have greater benefits for the community as it provides residents a place to dispose of knives in a responsible and safe manner.

She added: "People don't want to just chuck old kitchen knives in the bin because you never know who might find it.

"They can be so difficult to get rid of. At the moment people would have to get on a train or bus to Colchester or Chelmsford to get to their nearest amnesty bin. No one wants to be on public transport carrying a knife."