SUSPECTED firearms seized by police during an operation over the weekend have been found to be legally-held replicas.

Officers were called to an address in Shildon in the early hours of Saturday morning following reports of an incident.

On arrival, police found a large quantity of what appeared to be firearms and munitions at the property.

Officers found similar material at two other linked addresses in the Darlington area.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “Following an examination of the material seized at the three properties, we have established that all the items recovered were replica or legally-held firearms and deactivated munitions.

"No offences have been committed and no-one is to face any further action."

“All the items recovered during the police operation have now been removed to a safe location.

“While this appears to have been a false alarm triggered by the discovery of a store of replica firearms, we would urge people to remain vigilant at all times and continue to report anything suspicious to the police”.