A MAN has been arrested over an arms cache in a notorious gangland area to the north of Glasgow.

The 56-year-old was detained by detectives after the haul was seized in a dawn raid on a house in Milton of Campsie in East Dunbartonshire.

Police discovered several firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition and are now investigating whether there is any link to a similar discovery in a quiet suburb of Bearsden in April.

Officers from Strathclyde Police searched the house in the village's Hillside Terrace at 7am on Tuesday as part of a planned operation.

They also raided a number of other houses in the same area, as well as two business premises in the city centre and a property in Stirling.

Detective Inspector David Perritt said: "This operation should drive home a clear message to anyone involved in this type of crime.

"It will not be tolerated by us. We are committed to keeping people safe and will be relentless in our approach to targeting any criminal activity involving firearms.

"I would urge the public to continue to support the police by reporting any suspicions about anyone they believe to be involved in firearms crime."

In April this year, another firearms cache was discovered at a farmhouse in Killermont –including a standard issue military rifle.

The Ministry of Defence were drafted in to the help with the investigation into the haul, described by police as a significant find.

Serious Crime Squad officers have since been examining the stash, which included assault rifles, handguns and ammunition, and will now look into whether or not there is a link with this week's find.

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Police said: "There's nothing to link these two incidents at this stage, but inquiries are still continuing and we are not ruling anything in or out."

Detective Inspector Perritt urged anyone with information to get in touch.

He said: "Calls can be made to either their local police office or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained."