Police and trading standards swooped to seize an assortment of lethal knives, a crossbow and air guns at a boot sale.

Undercover police officers posed as punters at the popular Shoebury Park fair off North Road in Shoebury.

After spotting a 12-year-old boy illegally being sold a BB gun they radioed to uniformed officers, special constables and trading standards officers who descended on the stall at about 9am on Saturday

Officers found eight samurai swords and 11 other ornamental swords along with dozens of knives at the event.

Other seized items included a crossbow, lock-knives, throwing knives and the purchased gun.

Published Monday September 6, 2004

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