POLICE have recovered an arsenal of weapons after raiding a house in the region.

Officers were alerted shortly before midnight on Tuesday when CCTV operators picked up a number of people acting suspiciously close to the centre of Stockton.

One was seen to brandish a handgun and another was thought to have had a Samurai sword. They were monitored entering a house on Yarm Road in the town (Stockton), so police moved in.

The property was sealed off and four people were later arrested.

Three men, aged 18, 23, and 33, and one woman, aged 22, were continuing to help police with their enquiries last night.

A detailed search of the property ended yesterday (wed) afternoon.

Recovered was a Samurai sword, gas-powered replica handgun, cricket ball covered in wire and nails, baseball bats, a machete, and numerous bladed martial arts weapons.

Detective Sergeant Mark Buckley, of Stockton CID, said: "These are the sort of weapons that need to be taken off the streets and are the reason the national knife amnesty is currently running.

"These are weapons that can easily kill or maim. They are not toys."