Three guns and ammunition found buried in Middleton field

Greater Manchester Police officers discovered two pistols and a Glock 19 were wrapped in bin bags and buried next to a tree in the field near Hopwood Road yesterday (Tuesday, May 9).

The cordon was put in place while the officers, supported by GMP's specialist operations, tactical aid unit and Rochdale district officers, conducted a search to unearth and recover the weapons.

The guns will now be forensically examined.

One gun (Image: GMP)

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The grim discovery comes as officers from Rochdale's Challenger organised crime unit had been acting on information provided to the force over the last week.

Another gun alongside ammunition was found (Image: GMP)

The glock (Image: GMP)

Detective Inspector Stuart Round said: “This was an intelligence-led recovery of three firearms suspected of belonging to criminal networks who are associated with serious and organised crime.

“These are dangerous weapons, often used to threaten and cause serious risk and harm to people living within our community and their recovery is a great example of how we are acting on information that is provided to us and further protecting the public that we serve.” 

Anyone with information is being encouraged to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 800 555 111 or contact GMP via 101.

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