A former Merchant Navy officer with a fascination for guns has been jailed for four years after being caught with an arsenal of weapons.

Police raided the home of 50-year-old Robert Lockhart in Appin, Argyll, last November after Border Force officials intercepted a package addressed to him containing a handgun.

Six more handguns, a shotgun and ammunition were seized by police and the National Crime Agency.

Defence counsel Tony Lenehan said: "He has a fascination with guns. He would sit on a Saturday watching Westerns with guns at his side, which perhaps is childlike."

Lockhart, a cruise ship engineer who also served many years in the Merchant Navy, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to a series of firearms charges.

Judge Lady Stacey said: "What the police found was the guns, none of which was capable of being fired, but which could be modified, and some ammunition, some blank and some not.

"I have to take a serious view of this. Such weapons unmodified can be used to frighten people and modified they can be used to kill and they may be stolen by other people.

"Gun control is an important matter and you have blatantly breached it."

The court heard Border Force seized the package containing the handgun and officials later swooped on Lockhart's cottage, seizing a total of seven handguns.

Lockhart then admitted he had a "decommissioned" shotgun in a cabinet.

Police also seized ammunition and flares.