A WOOD Green woman who found a 20in machete under the floorboards of a flat she recently moved into was told by police to “just dispose of it”.

Francesca Witt, 30, called the Metropolitan Police after an electrician who was rewiring her home in Haringey Gardens discovered the deadly weapon wrapped in plastic on Thursday evening.

Expecting officers to come to collect the weapon, she was instead told she was being “dramatic” by the call centre operator, who said she should deal with the blade herself.

She said: “I'm really surprised by this police response – where exactly should I dispose of it?

“Pop it by the bins for someone to pick up? Take it down to the local youth centre and ask if anyone wants it?

“Considering there were riots very close by to our house I would have thought the police would be more vigilant.”

Miss Witt, who moved to the area from Shepherd's Bush in August, said that the blade of the machete looked clean but had expected Met officers to want to take the weapon for forensic examination.

She added: “The least I would have expected is for the police to agree to take it from us – if I was stopped in the street carrying this weapon I would most likely be arrested on the spot.”

After the Haringey Independent intervened, the Met said police were now arranging to collect the weapon.

In a statement, the Met said that it was reviewing the call and that “appropriate action” would be taken if necessary.

It added: “The Metropolitan Police Service takes all calls seriously and strives to ensure that its response meets the highest professional standard.”