FIREARMS officers were called out on Tuesday after police received reports of a man with a gun in a residential area.

Several police units, with specially trained armed officers, were sent to Skipton Close, in Newton Aycliffe, just after 3pm.

No gun was found at the address, but police did arrest four suspected drug dealers after finding cannabis at the scene.

A Durham Constabulary spokesman said: “We were called at 3.05pm today to reports of a man with a firearm in Skipton Close, in Newton Aycliffe.

“Officers attended and found there was no firearm.

“However, a quantity of cannabis was found and four people, two men and two women, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

"They remain in custody.”