A man has appeared in court after a suspected firearm was discovered in a property in Greenmount.

Liam Anthony Howarth, 41, made an initial court appearance at Manchester and Salford Magistrates on Saturday, January 20. 

Howarth, of Vernon Road, Greenmount, has been remanded in custody and will appear at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Thursday, February 22. 

Greater Manchester Police officers said they were called to a property on Vernon Road on Thursday, January 18 and arrested a man in connection with a fraud investigation. 

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Upon searching the house, officers found what they believed to be a gun and charged a man with possessing a firearm on the following day. 

Eyewitnesses on Vernon Road reported seeing three tactical unit vehicles and two police vans, with officers seen searching bins and gardens in the area. 

Neighbours say police remained on the scene for around "20 hours" between Thursday, January 18 and Friday, January 19.

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In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: "Officers searched the property under section 18 PACE and officers discovered a suspected firearm inside the property.

“The firearm was soon confirmed as a prohibited weapon and a 41-year-old man was further arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm.”

GMP added that fraud allegations remain under investigation.