Alliance Alderman Stephen Martin has expressed his alarm following the reported find of a gun by a young boy close to Lagan Valley Island, the HQ of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

Alderman Martin said: “We have had a number of troubling incidents in our city over the last three months. On this occasion, yet again, we have had a young person potentially put into harm’s way due to the callous disregard of whoever left the gun in a public space. I am just grateful this item has been recovered safely and the young boy in question should be praised for being so responsible in reporting what he found so quickly.

“At my request, an all-party group of Councillors met recently with local PSNI officers, who assured us of the efforts they are making to combat this type of activity. They can’t do it alone – it takes community involvement and all strategic agencies putting their shoulder to the wheel to make sure our streets are as safe as they can be.

“Rest assured we are going to keep making sure public safety is at the top of the agenda, because it’s only by the quick thinking of a youngster in this case we aren’t dealing with something much more serious.

“Anyone with information about this, or other serious incidents, should report it to the police on the 101 number, or anonymously to the Crimestoppers Charity on 0800 555 111.”