Staff foiled an attempt to smuggle a gun into Medway Magistrates Court, we can exclusively reveal.

The weapon was one of more than 300 banned items people tried to sneak into the court building in Chatham last year.

Guards at Medway Magistrates’ Court and Medway County Court seized 38 knives, 42 tools, 22 alcoholic drinks, 207 cameras, 48 audio recorders and 114 other contraband items during 2010.

The revelation came as court bosses unveiled details of more than 5,000 objects confiscated at the county’s court doors.

Across Kent, the haul included 750 knives, 739 alcoholic drinks and 302 household tools.

But there were also five firearms – three genuine and two replicas – confiscated at court doors across the county.

Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS released the data to the Medway Messenger under the Freedom of Information Act.

One of the more unusual items was found in August, when a woman was let off with a police caution after she admitting carrying pepper spray in her bag.

The 41-year-old, from Gillingham, was also found to have a small quantity of cannabis when she was arrested at Medway Magistrates’ Court.