Seven men have been arrested after a large haul of drugs, ammunition and a loaded sawn-off shotgun was uncovered by police in an area of wasteland last week.

The find came after police spent three days searching the railway line scrubland between Rathgar Road, Loughborough Road and Styles Gardens, Brixton, last Monday, March 27.

Following a tip off they discovered an overgrown "disposal ground" littered with black bin bags, clingfilm boxes and drug paraphernalia.

But hidden under a large concrete slab and covered in mud they found a stash containing drugs, bullets and a gun.

Among the booty was a loaded sawn-off shotgun a large tub full of freshly-grown cannabis, 17 further tubs of cannabis, a large haul of crack cocaine, and 37 rounds of 9mm bullets.

They were buried two feet under the ground with no visible markers. Police said they only found the cache by digging up the entire area.

Detective Sergeant Stephen Payne, who led the search, said: "It took three days of hard work and perseverance to go over every inch of the land.

"But it was worthwhile as the items recovered are a good step in disrupting the criminal activity they may have been used for.

"Our officers will continue to use their specialist skills and expertise to fight the war on crime."

Following the searches, a house in Rangar Road was raided and officers found £2,000 and more drug paraphernalia.

Consequently seven men were arrested for possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of class A and B drugs with intent to supply.

Among the seven were a 46-year-old man from Streatham, a 44-year-old man from West Norwood and a 64-year-old from Battersea.

The searches were conducted by Lambeth's Police Search Advisor (PolSA).