Police officers discovered a guns factory and arrested four people as part of a crackdown on violent crime in east London.

Detectives found evidence of the conversion and manufacturing of firearms at a commercial premises in Romford Road, Chigwell, during a night of action in and around London.

During the raid they also found three guns, ammunition and drugs.

Four men, aged 20 to 55, were arrested and remain in custody.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: A gun seized by police. Picture: Met Police.A gun seized by police. Picture: Met Police.

The find comes as part of a wider Met Police operation to tackle violent crime as the number of firearms seized this year soared.

A total of 450 were seized in 2020/2021 compared to 366 recovered in the previous financial year.

The trend is set to continue with 98 found in the first quarter of this financial year compared to 92 for the same period the previous year.

The figures were released after Commissioner Cressida Dick joined Mayor Sadiq Khan on an operation targeting gun crime and gang activity in east London.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Commissioner Cressida Dick and Mayor Sadiq Khan. Picture: Met Police.Commissioner Cressida Dick and Mayor Sadiq Khan. Picture: Met Police.

Commissioner Dick said: “Yet more potentially lethal weapons have been removed from the streets and people are safer as a result of the actions of my officers.

“The streets of London do not belong to those intent on violence, they belong to the public.

“We will never be complacent and our work to suppress shootings will not ease."

Mr Khan said tackling violence is his "number one" priority, adding: "I’m determined to be tough on crime with support for the Met Police as they work to target the most serious offenders, remove lethal weapons from our streets and bear down on gang violence.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Another gun found by police. Picture: Met Police.Another gun found by police. Picture: Met Police.

"There will continue to be a relentless focus by the Met on suppressing violence over the summer with more officers on the streets patrolling open spaces and parks, as well as working to keep our town centres safe."

Information on how to report a suspected firearms discharge, or to provide information to the police on where firearms are being stored or who is in possession of a weapon, can be made by calling 999, tweeting @MetCC or visiting the Met's website.