CANNABIS, a kitchen knife, and home made weapons are some of the items discovered by police officers when they carried out a 'sweep' on a Harlesden estate.

The Harlesden Safer Neighbourhoods Team worked with specialist officers on Tuesday to carry out the exercise, which involves a careful search of bushes and other areas to look for hidden items.

As well as the weapons, knife and drugs found this week, police also found gold jewellery. The home made weapons were made of sticks.

Chief inspector Taff Thomas of the Brent Safer Neighbourhoods Team said: "This proactive operation, based on intelligence from the community, has taken potential weapons off our streets and will no doubt come as a blow to whoever was planning to use them. We will continue to do our utmost to make Brent as safe as possible for residents and visitors."

A police spokesman said the purpose of a weapon sweep is to find any "weapons, potential weapons and drugs that have been concealed in and around the area".

The spokesman added: "Officers search places like gardens, parks, bushes, bins, alleyways looking for any weapons that may have been hidden there.

"Officers carry our weapon sweeps when information or intelligence has been passed to them. Some of the safer neighbourhood teams may carry out the sweeps every month just to make sure the area is safe and reassure the public."