Big weapons find in Catford as family uncovers stash of guns in River Pool, south London

A family enjoying a weekend afternoon paddle in a London river had a shock when they found a large cache of dumped firearms. Ryan Ball, 32, was at the picturesque River Pool in Catford when a young family friend slipped on a metal object in the water. To their horror, a search of the river bottom revealed several guns, including what appeared to be a revolver and an Uzi submachine gun. There were also what looked like bullet magazines and a quantity of ammunition.

'Slipped on gun magazine'

Ryan explains: "We were at river view walk where we regularly go with our children, and my sons were playing with a 15-year-old boy, James, when he slipped on which appeared to be a magazine from a gun. "He then started to search around in the water, and then one after the other he started to pull out everything you can see in the pictures." Ryan was at the local spot with his three children, aged eleven, five and one. He adds: "I then contacted the police, who came and retrieved the weapons and will be sweeping the river for any more." Callum Jones, Metropolitan Police Service spokesperson, said: "Police were called to Winsford Road, SE6, at 16.49hrs on Saturday, 6 August to reports of firearms found in a river. Officers attended. "A firearm and ammunition were recovered and removed from the scene."

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