Five charged after submachine guns found at flat

Police believe two of the weapons are Skorpion submachine guns

Five men have been charged after submachine guns and a pistol were found in a flat.

Merseyside Police said two suspected Skorpion weapons were found during the raid in Condron Road North, Litherland, Merseyside, on Monday.

They were taken away for forensic examination to see if they are working guns, officers said.

The five were charged with conspiring to possess firearms and conspiring to possess ammunition, and will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday.

One man was also charged with three counts of possession of a firearm without a certificate and three counts of possession of prohibited ammunition.

Det Sup Paul Speight said: "Our work to remove dangerous weapons from the streets of Merseyside remains ongoing on a daily basis.

"Seizing firearms means they can no longer be used to cause fear or harm to our communities and I would encourage anyone who has information to come forward and tell us what they know."