Two arrests after police find guns buried in garden

Two people have been arrested after a 12-day police search of a home where guns were discovered buried in the back garden.

A shotgun, handgun and ammunition were dug up by Greater Manchester Police from under a lawn at the house on Crowngreen Road, Eccles.

Police, who had been at the home since 8 July, used heavy machinery to search the garden, and also discovered a machete and a Class B drug from inside the home.

The force said a 57-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were arrested earlier on suspicion of possession of a firearm and ammunition and taken into custody for questioning.

The force said the firearms were though to be viable, and have been "made safe and removed from the address for forensic testing".

Det Sgt Gareth Bannister said: "Firearms have absolutely no place on our streets and the recovery of these items is significant in removing potentially lethal weapons from our communities.

"This is our message to those that look to use violence, intimidation and the threat of firearms to protect their criminal activities and interests – we will pursue you and bring you to justice."

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