POLICE seized four rifles in early morning raids in Durham last week.

The .22 and .20 calibre weapons were seized by detectives, accompanied by officers from Northumbria, who executed search warrants at eight addresses in the Gilesgate and Sherburn Road areas of the city.

Three were found at a house in Gilesgate and the fourth was found at Sherburn Road.

Other property including a boxed set of pots and pans, cuddly toys, including several large teddy bears, a video recorder and a small amount of cannabis were also found.

Police believe the property was stolen in shoplifting sprees or shop burglaries.

Three men and a woman, all in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and handling stolen goods.

Two men were bailed pending further inquiries and the third man and the woman were cautioned for handling stolen goods.

The raids were carried out as part of Operation Bullseye, the county-wide crackdown on known criminals in the run-up to Christmas.