FOUR people were arrested during a dawn raid by armed officers in Middlesbrough.

A search of the house in Farmside Mews, in the Bonny Grove area of Marton, uncovered a ball bearing gun.

About 30 officers attended the scene - including a dozen armed with sub-machine guns.

They ordered the four people out of the property, at about 6am yesterday.

Residents in the neighbourhood were woken by the sound of the police helicopter as it hovered above the house.

Three of the men, two aged 20 and one aged 27, were later released unconditionally.

The fourth, a 20-year-old man, was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "Four people were arrested following a police raid in Farmside Mews. Armed officers were involved in the execution of a warrant under the Firearms Act."