THREE guns have been found in a blazing wheelie bin.

The weapons, a shotgun and two rifles, are believed to have been those stolen – along with some ammunition – from a car parked on Old Mill Road, in Southwick, Sunderland, on Saturday (December 29).

Northumbria Police were told of the bin fire, on Julius Caesar Street, also in Southwick, shortly after 11.30pm on New Year’s Eve.

Two men, aged 26 and 36, have been arrested and police enquiries are continuing.

The theft of the guns was reported shortly before 12.50pm on Saturday.

The firearms had been legally held by the owner.

Following the theft, Detective Inspector Paul Woods said there was no information to suggest any danger to the public.

However, the police stepped up patrols in the area and Det Insp Woods said officers were doing everything possible to trace the weapons and the people involved.