A man has been charged with firearms offences after a gun and ammunition was found at a recently-closed nursery in Salford.
Officers 'acting on information' raided the building of the former Mini Fingers Day Nursery on Liverpool Road in Irlam on Wednesday evening (October 7). The nursery was ordered to shut down earlier this week due to the discovery of a rat infestation, unrelated to the police probe.
Police searched the building and found a gun. They also found a 'substantial quantity' of ammunition inside.
Arrests and charges
Two men were arrested following the discovery. One of the men, Christopher Maxwell, 38, of Manor Road, Sale, has since been charged.
He has been charged with possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate and possession of class A drugs, namely cocaine. Mr Maxwell was remanded into custody to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court today (October 10).
A man, aged in his 50s, who was arrested has since been bailed 'pending further enquiries', a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson added.
Nursery closure
The nursery at the centre of the police scene was ordered to shut down earlier this week after the discovery of a rat infestation. Mini Fingers was issued with a prohibition order by Salford Council's environmental health department on Friday, October 2, after inspectors discovered vermin in the building on Liverpool Road.
Parents were told the nursery would be closing down for good on Monday, October 5, in an email claiming that 'due to the recent events and the business struggling', the owner 'does not see a way forward without the business being extremely out of pocket'. The manager stated she was 'devastated' by the closure.
