IT LOOKS like something out a horror film - a weapon capable of causing mayhem.

Concerned parents of a 27-year-old man contacted police officers from the Cray Valley West safer neighbourhood team in Bromley after discovering their son had purchased this potentially lethal weapon.

The son who suffers from learning difficulties and has a mental age of nine, is an avid collector of martial arts memorabilia.

Sgt Dave Conyers, said: “It’s certainly the most offensive weapon I have ever seen and a very frightening piece. Something like this only serves one purpose, to maim and horrify. Something like this could be deadly in the wrong hands.”

The family, who do not wish to be identified, were said to have been “shocked and appalled” when it arrived and could not believe the size of the weapon and the danger it posed.

Their son had already cut himself on one of the sharpened blades before officers safely arranged for the owner to part with the weapon and agree to its destruction as part of Operation Blunt.

PCSO Chris Mcauley has been training in mixed martial arts for over three years.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s some kind of gothic medieval axe that is very, very sharp.”

Bromley trading standards officers have been informed and are using the incident as part of a wider investigation into the availability of blades.

Ch Insp Marshall Kent, head of Bromley Police’s safer neighbourhood teams, said: “It is completely unacceptable that horrific weapons like this are available to cause mayhem and death on our streets through the Internet.

“I am absolutely appalled that this sort of thing is easily obtainable and I would like to thank the parents concerned for contacting the local safer neighbourhood team in order to surrender this weapon.

“We shall be working with our partners in trading standards to stop the sale of such items.

“Additionally we will be making representations to the home office about the availability of such ghastly weapons over the Internet.”

The weapon is now safely in the hands of police officers before it is taken into storage at Bromley police station.

It may be blunted and used as an exhibition tool in Operation Blunt seminars before it is permanently destroyed.