Police uncovered a haul of more than 160 weapons including swords, crossbows, axes and throwing stars after carrying out a drugs raid in a one bedroom flat.

Officers entered a property in Viaduct Road, Brighton, shortly before 9am this morning after a Misuse of Drugs Act search warrant was issued.

A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug and a quantity of cannabis was seized.

However, officers came across more than they bargained for when they discovered the mass of knifes, spears, swords and other weapons.

Among the haul include a metal skull mask, a crossbow and axes.

There were also multiple swords, daggers, throwing stars, an imitation firearm, baseball bat and samurai sword.

A number of plastic weapons were also recovered. Sussex Police said they are designed so that they would not set off metal detectors.

Sergeant Ned Edwards, local support team sergeant and police search advisor (PolSA) for Brighton and Hove, was involved in the operation and Tweeted pictures of the haul.

He said it took six officers to carry the weapons out the property and list it all.

He added: "There was almost every kind of weapon you could imagine inside the flat. It is the largest haul I have seen in more than 10 years.

"They were all modern weapons and appear to have been purchased online. We have seized them all as part of the investigation."

Anyone with information about drug-dealing in the area should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.