A woman has been arrested after a loaded pistol was found next to a rabbit hutch during a raid of a house in Ashton. 

Greater Manchester Police executed a warrant at an address on Bishop Close at around 6am on Thursday morning (18 November). 

Officers from GMP Tameside's Challenger team and Neighbourhood Task Force discovered 'an amount' of cocaine - a Class A controlled substance - along with a loaded converted firearm and extra ammunition hidden next to the family's rabbit hutch. 

A 23-year-old woman was arrested and is currently in police custody. 

Cocaine and extra ammunition for the pistol was also found by police. Image: Greater Manchester Police. 

Detective Sergeant Ian Toole, of GMPs Tameside Organised Crime Unit, said: "The seizure of this firearm located during the warrant this morning is a great result for not only our team but for the local community as it means we have one less potentially deadly weapon removed from our streets.

"It is completely unacceptable for these weapons to be on our streets and we are doing all we can to crack down on those individuals who think that they can disobey the law by owning an illegal weapon.

"We take all reports of drug and firearm offences extremely seriously and we continue to need the public's help in tracking down these criminals." 

Anyone with information about suspected criminal activity in their local area can report it by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat service on the GMP website at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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