Police seized a sub-machine gun from a house in Penge last night (September 16) following the arrests of two men for drug and fraud offences.

Lambeth police found the Scorpion sub-machine gun, a silencer and ammunition after searching the house at around 9.40pm.

The address was searched after officers on patrol in Electric Lane in Brixton at around 5pm passed a parked car with three men in it which smelt strongly of cannabis.

Officers, who searched the men, found cannabis, suspected stolen bank cards and £4,000 in cash.

Police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of cannabis possession and theft and another 28-year-old man on suspicion of theft.

Officers later further arrested the second man on suspicion of money laundering.

Police searched a number of residences following the arrests, including in Penge where they found the machine gun.

Two men, aged 66 and 27, were arrested at the address on suspicion of possessing a firearm.

All four men remain in custody at south London police stations.

Acting inspector Steve Boswell of Lambeth central cluster SNT said: "This is an excellent piece of work carried out by our local neighbourhood officers who have responded to local concerns surrounding drug use and supply in the area.

“The result of which is that an extremely dangerous firearm has been taken off the streets of London today and is a great example of what we can achieve when we link in with our communities."

Detectives from the Trident Gang Crime Command are investigating.