Cumbria has ranked fourth in the top 10 UK areas with the most shotguns.

There are 4,860 shotguns per 100,000 people in the county’s policing area, according to Home Office data, using the most recent data set – from April 2022 to March 2023.

It is followed by Suffolk with 5,714 per 100,000, Norfolk with 6,459 per 100,000, and Dyfed-Powys with 6,557 per 100,000.

In Cumbria, a shotgun certificate costs £79.50, £49 to renew, and £4 to replace a lost certificate, fees which are mirrored with other police forces, including the Met.

Getting a gun license is an extremely thorough and lengthy process which aims to put in place several checks and balances to ensure guns are handed to responsible people.

Broadly speaking, shotguns are typically used for controlling vermin, game shooting, and clay pigeon shooting.