An Express & Echo campaign calling for a ban on the sale of samurai swords has been backed by a judge who jailed a murderer for killing a man with one of the weapons.

Judge Graham Cottle called for tighter restrictions on the sale of lethal blades in an exclusive interview with the Exeter paper.

He had earlier jailed 24-year-old Bradley Moran from Newtown, Sidmouth, who stabbed Matthew Stiling after going home to collect the ornamental weapon.

The judge told the Echo its campaign had helped increase awareness about the danger of such weapons and said the sale of them to be carefully looked at.

He told the paper: "I agree with that as a member of the public.

"In this case, a lethal weapon was readily available and introduced in a confrontation. He (Moran) was not carrying it, but he went home to get it.

"He had to hand, at his home, something which was completely lethal, very sharp and heavy, and I support the introduction of much stricter measures governing the possession of and purchase of weapons like this."