A MAN wearing a chain mail vest and gloves, along with two other men with crowbars, knives and a pistol, were found by police officers.

Police were called to Westfield Road, Nelson, at 4.55pm yesterday after they were told a group of men were seen wearing masks and carrying crowbars.

Officers found three men in a Vauxhall Zafira with machetes, knives, a police baton, a long blade, gloves and crowbars.

The men, a 31-year-old from Nelson, and a 28-year-old and a 32-year-old from Burnley were arrested for conspiring to commit violent disorder and possession of weapons.

A police spokesman said during this a Volvo car was spotted on the road where knives and meat cleaves were found.

As a result of the arrests police were led to a house in Smith Street, Nelson, where a cannabis farm was discovered.

The spokesman said two upstairs rooms were found to be used to cultivate the plants.

A 44-year-old man was arrested for conspiring to commit violent disorder and possession of weapons and a 36-year-old woman was arrested on cultivating cannabis and abstracting electricity.

All five are in custody.

A police spokesman said: "The photo shows just some of the haul of weapons, tools and even armour, seized by team three.

"Had this gone unnoticed some serious injury could have been caused.

"Thankfully, as a result of eagle-eyed members of the public and officers’ coordination determination, these weapons won’t be seeing the light of day and the streets are that little bit safer.

"Enquiries are still ongoing."

On Twitter, chief inspector Hassan Khan posted: "Brilliant response and certainly prevented something more serious occurring.