A SUSPECTED drug dealer was arrested after police turned up at his house to question him in relation to an allegation of assault.

Officers were stunned to find a small cannabis farm and what is believed to be crack cocaine when they visited the house in Chopwell, near Gateshead, on Thursday morning.

A 29-year-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and the drugs were seized for forensic testing.

Sergeant Warren Sturrock, Northumbria Police, said he was glad the drugs had been taken off the streets.

He said: "This is a significant seizure and we believe the street value of the drugs are far in excess of £10,000.

"This was a great bit of work by officers who had attended the address for unrelated matters and quickly found the haul of illegal substances.”

The man arrested has since been released under investigation.

Sgt Sturrock said: “We need residents to report suspicious behaviour so we can take action against those involved in suspected criminal activity.

"It may be there is a strong smell of drugs, strangers are loitering in the street or a particular property is regularly visited by a number of different people.

"You can be our eyes and ears on the ground so if you see anything that doesn't seem right then pick up the phone and contact police."

People can report suspicious activity to police by calling 101 or reporting it online at www.northumbria.police.uk.