Three knives and a meat cleaver were found hidden in the undergrowth when police conducted an estate sweep in London Fields on Friday.

The Queensbridge Safer Neighbourhoods Team and a local POLSA team (Police Search Advisors) made the findings near the Blackstone Estate in Wilman Grove, along with some bolt cutters and a locked bicycle lock.

Sgt Christopher Scott, of Queensbridge Safer Neighbourhoods team, said: “This operation demonstrates the effectiveness of estate sweeps and sends out a message to the criminal fraternity that we will find their weapons, wherever they choose to hide them.

“We will continue to conduct these estate sweeps and I hope that by doing so we can combat crime and anti-social behaviour.”