HUNDREDS of pirate films and music albums have been seized in a raid on a house on Tyneside.

The DVDs and CDs were found, along with the computer equipment need to make counterfeit copies, at an address on the Springwell Estate, in Gateshead, at the weekend.

Digital encoding equipment and chipping devices needed to receive satellite TV signals were also recovered. The equipment is believed to have been stolen. The raid was carried out by detectives from Gateshead, along with investigators from the Federation Against Copyright Theft and cable TV provider Telewest Broadband.

Police said a man was arrested and was helping with inquiries.