UNCONFIRMED reports last night indicated that a gun had been found by a young boy in Lisburn.
Alliance councillor Stephen Martin said the reported find was made close to Lagan Valley Island, the headquarters of Lisburn and Castlereagh council
It was reported that the weapon was found in grass close to a car park at around 6.30pm.
Police are understood to have sealed the area off following the discovery.
Alliance councillor Stephen Martin said it comes following "a number of troubling incidents" in Lisburn over the last three months.
"On this occasion, yet again, we have had a young person potentially put into harms way due to the callous disregard of whoever left the gun in a public space," he said.
"I am just grateful that this item has been recovered safely and the young boy in question should be praised for being so responsible in reporting what he found so quickly."
He added that if it wasn't for the "quick thinking of a youngster in this case, we aren’t dealing with something much more serious".