A number of graves at a Liverpool cemetery have been cordoned off by police following the discovery of a gun and ammunition.

Merseyside Police sealed off the area in West Derby Cemetery at about 1.15pm on Tuesday after receiving a report that the items had been found inside a bag.

The force said on Wednesday that forensic tests are being carried out to determine the type of firearm.

Work will also be ongoing to check if it is linked to local murders, such as Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale and Olivia-Pratt Korbel, the Liverpool Echo reported.

Detective Inspector John Mullen said: “Every weapon we seize makes our communities safer, and this gun was stored with ammunition, which could have been used to cause serious harm.

“We will now conduct forensic work to establish if this is a weapon which has been used before and who has had it in their possession.”

He added: “If you have any information on this or other weapons, do the right thing and come forward immediately, as what you know could remove dangerous people and their weapons from the streets of Merseyside.”

Anyone with information on the storage or use of firearms can contact the force at @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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