POLICE swooped on an Accrington antiques shop and seized a number of rare stuffed birds and animals.

Around 16 officers armed with a search warrant, along with staff from the National Wildlife Unit and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, raided the Sellitall store on Blackburn Road on Tuesday.

Also on the scene was a film crew shooting a forthcoming TV show about animal conservation entitled Animal 24-7.

After searching the store for over three hours officers seized 13 stuffed items including two buzzards, two peregrine falcons, three tawny owls, one eagle owl, one red squirrel, one Scottish wildcat and one night jar.

They arrested property landlord, 67-year-old Kevin Cosgrove, who lives in Oswaldtwistle, and the shop manager, Paul Barratt, 57, from Bury.

They spent more than four hours quizzing them about the items. Both were later released on police bail until 10 May.

Police, who were acting on a tip-off, said the items were seized under the Control of the Trade in Endangered Species Act and the Countryside and Wildlife Act, which protect endangered species.

PC Duncan Thomas said: "The warrant was a result of close partnership working beween the police, the National Wildlife Unit, the RSPB and volunteers.

"We are happy with the result which is a classic example of a multi-agency operation targeting the suspected trade in endangered species."