A RARE miniature pistol believed to be the smallest in the world has been handed in to police in Weymouth.

The tiny German firearm was given to officers at a police station during the national guns amnesty which ends today.

A small wooden box containing the gun, bullets, a small cleaning rod and instructions in German on how to use it was handed in to surprised staff.

Sergeant Tony Smith of Weymouth Police said: "I have never seen a gun like this before. It is tiny and obviously very unusual, but it is not a toy and is a real pistol.

"It looks like it is worn on the finger. It is certainly not the sort of thing that normally gets handed into the police station.

"The amnesty means people do not have to give their personal details to us if they do not want to so we don't know who handed it in."

Mystery surrounds the history of the pistol and how it came to be in the town.

Deborah Doyle, a valuer at HY Dukes auction house in Dorchester, said she believes the gun was a type made for women.

She said: "It is a rare piece and would have possible been used in the Victorian era.

"I have seen a gun very similar to this, but unfortunately we could not sell it for the owners because bullets for the pistol can still be bought and it can still be used.

"A collector would probably pay between £300 and £500 for the pistol."

The gun is now being stored along with other firearms handed in during the amnesty in secure gun cabinets in undisclosed places.

Since the beginning of the amnesty on March 31, a total of 322 firearms have been handed in to police stations across Dorset included 88 prohibited weapons including handguns and shotguns. Also handed in have been 9,439 rounds of ammunition and 23 other weapons including knives and blades.

Other unusual items that have been handed in to police during the last month include a 1941 German fuse given to officers within the Poole division.

Chief Inspector David Griffiths from Dorset Police's operations division said: "The response received from the amnesty has exceeded all expectations and we are extremely delighted with the amount of firearms that have been handed in."

n The amnesty means the miniature gun's owners do not have to identify themselves, but if they would like to come forward and tell the Dorset Echo about the pistol and how they came to have it they can contact Naomi Wright on 01305 830983.