SHOCKED neighbours watched as police arrested a couple after finding what they believe to be cocaine and canabis along with £10,000 in their house.

The 38-year-old man and 31- year-old woman were arrested as officers brokedown the door to the family home in Leamington Road, Southend.

Police executed the search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and are now testing substances found in the property.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, couldn’t believe a couple in the area could have been involved in drugs.

She said: “By the time I realised what was happening, the police were already in the house, but it came as a complete surprise.

They’re a reallynice family.

“The only thing I could think was that itwasamistake. You just don’t know.”

Another neighbour added: “I heard a noise and I just saw three men smash the door down. It was really bashed in and was boarded up for the rest of the day.

“I don’t really know the couple that livethere, but itwasallabit of a surprise.

“It’s a quiet street, but although there are some rented houses on here, you wouldn’t expect anyone to be involved in that sort of thing.”

The couple were arrested on suspicion of possessing the possible drugs and bailed to return to Southend police station on April 14 pending further investigations and chemical testing of the substances.

The raid, which was carried out at 7am on Monday, involved officers from Southend’s Operation Penrith, which works with CID, probation and the council to target known and active offenders.