Swords, guns, knives and a gold chain are among some of the items confiscated by police as offensive weapons in Watford and Three Rivers over the past year.

According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act a total of 67 weapons were confiscated in the two areas between September 2010 and September 2011.

Almost half of the items confiscated were knives, including kitchen and lock knives, and some people were caught carrying multiple blades when they were searched by police officers.

Two swords were also discovered by police, belonging to two men aged 24 and 20.

A firearm, an air pistol with ammunition and a sawn-off shotgun were also among the police’s collection of confiscated items along with three imitation firearms.

Chief Inspector John Dempsey-Brench said: “In order to fully portray an accurate picture of the weapons seized these figures need to be put into context.

“The scenarios and circumstances where these seizures have taken place will also all be different, some will be the result of proactive operations and others in incidents which may include assaults and domestic incidents.”

Two of the 67 items were discovered as a result of a search completed at Watford Police Station.

The oldest offender, 53, was found with a kitchen knife in Market Street, Watford, last November.

A bottle and a knuckleduster were confiscated from the youngest offenders, who were both 15.

In total, 12 items were confiscated from children under the age of 18, including an air pistol and a metal pole from two 17-year-old boys. A wrench, gold chain and knife were the only items confiscated from women, all in the Watford area.

Chief Inspector Dempsey said: “We are committed to keeping the streets of Watford and Three Rivers safe from offensive weapons and continue to conduct searches and seize weapons where necessary as protecting the public will always remain our main priority.

“We would like to remind people if they are walking or travelling with objects that could be used as a weapon to think about the consequences of their actions."

Other unusual items included a fence post, a house brick and a chair leg, all of which were confiscated after being used as offensive weapons.

Baldwins Lane in Croxley Green was one of the roads where the most weapons were seized, with three items found between March and August, with a further one discovered in the recreation ground in the same period.

The items included an iron bar from a 22-year-old man, a lock knife from a 19-year-old man and another lock knife and grinder from an 18-year-old man.

Over the 12 month period, February saw the most weapons confiscated, with ten items being discovered, contrasting with August in which only one weapon was seized.