Claire Reid
A family enjoying a visit to a London river were shocked to discover a cache of dumped weapons while paddling in the water.
Ryan Ball, 32, was with his three children aged 11, five and one and a 15-year-old family friend, at the River Pool in Catford.
While in the water, the teen slipped on a metal object and began to have a search of the riverbed when he made the grim discovery.
Numerous guns were found, including what appeared to be a revolver and an Uzi submachine gun.
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There were also what looked like bullet magazines and a quantity of ammunition.
Ryan said: "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."
After the weapons were found Ryan contacted the police who took the weapons and told him they would be conducting a search of the river for any more weapons.
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He went on: "I then contacted the police, who came and retrieved the weapons and will be sweeping the river for any more."
Speaking to MyLondon, James said he had hoped the discovery was a 'bad dream'.
The teen said: "When I found them I said 'I wish it was a bad dream,' but it wasn't a dream and then I found a cone shape and I said 'it might be an explosive'.
"Then I found another set of guns and another cone that looked like an explosive."
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In a post on Facebook, James's sister, said: “Be careful letting your kids play in the River View walk behind Sainsbury's in Catford.
“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 were informed and they are going to sweep the river. Please be aware when letting your children play in the river.”
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."