Handguns, drugs and canisters of CS spray were seized when detectives and armed police swooped on a flat in a quiet York street.

The flat in Thoresby Road which was raided by police

Residents in Thoresby Road, Acomb, watched in amazement as officers sealed off their road during the raid.

"Suddenly there were half a dozen cars pulling on to the kerbs, and vans stopping in the middle of the street, totally blocking it," said one resident, who asked not to be named.

"There were so many people coming backwards and forwards. I saw a police dog go into the flat a couple of times and I saw two men being taken away, one wearing handcuffs. The police must have been here about an hour and a half."

Police said two handguns, two CS spray canisters and a small quantity of drugs were seized in the raid shortly after 4pm yesterday.

The type of drugs is unknown until forensic studies are made.

Three men and a woman were arrested in connection with the raid. The four, aged 19, 22, 33 and 34, were later released on police bail while investigations continue.

The resident said: "A lot of people in this street have bought their houses because this is such a pleasant little cul-de-sac. There are elderly people and children living here. Most of the people are very nice and this has actually shocked me.

"You hear about this sort of thing, but to have it happen on your doorstep is horrific."

Another resident said: "This certainly isn't the type of place you would think something like this would happen and it does scare me to think there were guns in that flat. They could have been used in the street.

"We moved in here 34 years ago and it was a lovely place. This sort of thing would never have happened, but it is changing.

"I think people round here will be very surprised by this."

Detective Chief Inspector John Lacy, of North Yorkshire Police, said the find was particularly shocking with the murder of Jill Dando and the killings in a Denver school so fresh in people's minds.

He said: "We take the illegal holding of any firearms extremely seriously, especially in the light of recent happenings, and we will act on any information we receive."

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