POLICE who stopped a North-East motorist for suspected traffic offences discovered £300,000 worth of cocaine out on the car seat.

Officers stopped the VW Passat as it drove along Encombe Terrace, Ferryhill, County Durham , shortly before 6pm on Wednesday.

A police spokesman said: "While they conducted enquiries with the occupants they then found inside the car a bag containing approximately 1kg of a white powder, believed to be cocaine, on one of the seats.

"This would have an estimated street value of up to £300,000.

"The bag and the car were seized and the driver and his passenger arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply."

The pair, aged 35 and 26 and both from Bishop Auckland, were questioned by detectives from Bishop Auckland CID and then released on police bail, pending further enquiries, until the end of July.