TEN people have been arrested in connection with theft of £100k of guns from a lorry in Basildon.

Detectives are currently raiding flats in a tower block at Godman Road in Chadwell St Mary in a bid to track down the weapons which are thought to be sports rifles and shotguns.

The guns were stolen off the back of a lorry as it was parked in Swinbourne Road, on the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate in Basildon at about 1am on Friday, April 18.

At the time of the theft the guns were being transported to an undisclosed location on behalf of a legal arms dealer.

At about 1am the lorry driver was reaching the legal limit on his tachograph so decided to pull over for a rest.

It was during this time the guns were stolen.

The theft of the guns was not reported to police for four days- until April 22.

Essex Police have refused to comment on whether the lorry driver is being linked to the theft. Last night four people were arrested on suspicion of the theft of the guns at addresses in Grays.

Today a further six people have been arrested. Senior Investigating Officer, Temporary Detective Superintendent Keith Davies from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said that a number of firearms, which are sporting guns such as shotguns and rifles, were still missing.

He said: "Extensive house-to-house enquiries will be carried out in the Godman Road, Chadwell St Mary as part of the search for the weapons."

Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the missing guns should contact Essex Police on 101.