Family discover large cache of dumped firearms while paddling in London river

A family found a large cache of dumped firearms - including a submachine gun - while having a paddle in a river during a day out in London.

The discovery of the horde of guns and ammunition was made along the scenic River Pool in Catford, south east London, on Saturday.

Ryan Ball, 32, was at the beauty spot with his three children, aged 11, five and one, when a family friend, James White, 15, came across the weapons.

They had been out fishing along the water when they decided to paddle to cool off in the hot weather.

However, they stumbled across a cache that turned out to include several guns, among them a revolver and an Uzi submachine gun, as well as bullet magazines and a pile of ammunition.

Mr Ball said: "We were at Riverview 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.

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"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."

He added: "I then contacted the police, who came and retrieved the weapons and will be sweeping the river for any more."

James's sister, Emelie White, wrote on Facebook: "Be careful letting your kids play in the river view walk behind Sainsbury’s in lower Sydenham.

"My brother was over there with a friend and his kid and my brother fell on something and pulled out a gun and found many more.

"Police where informed and they are going to sweep the river. Please be aware when letting your children play in the river."

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Service said: "Police were called to Winsford Road, SE6, at 4.49pm 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."