Police have uncovered a double haul of illegal guns and more than £250,000 of stolen property following two dawn raids in the Chelmsford area.

Eleven officers from the Chelmsford tactical squad swooped on a home in the Moulsham area early on Tuesday and seized six replica Colt handguns, six cans of CS spray and an electric stun gun.

The raid was part of a national firearms initiative, Operation Benbridge, and involved two officers from Derbyshire police.

Dc Ian Shead, who led the operation, described the replica guns as 'John Wayne' style: "We shouldn't have unlawful firearms on the street. They are still a gun, they still hold six bullets, they still fire and they are still capable of killing people."

A 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and bailed until late March.

A 26-year-old Chelmsford woman has been charged with possessing CS spray and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court next week.

On Thursday last week police tactical squad officers raided an industrial estate on the outskirts of Chelmsford following reports of stolen goods being stored there.

The early morning raid recovered a shotgun, six lorries and vans, a horse box, five quad bikes, gardening equipment, tools and plant machinery.

A 32-year-old man from Purfleet was arrested on suspicion of stealing vehicles and possessing a prohibited weapon and was bailed until March 4.

Parts of dismantled vehicles were also found.

Tactical team officer Pc Toni Brockwell said: "We have so far been able to identify two items as stolen property and there are still vast amounts being checked."

He said high value items included a refrigerated lorry worth about £25,000 and a horse box worth approximately £50,000.

Published Friday January 21, 2005

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