FIREARMS were found when armed police officers stormed a bungalow in Bishop's Cleeve.
Officers armed with handguns descended on the home in Two Hedges Road.
They arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of possession of firearms.
They swooped down on the quiet residential street in the village at around 8am yesterday.
Officers from Metropolitan Police, which is responsible for Greater London, and Gloucestershire Constabulary spent more than two hours searching the home.
Plain clothes police officers and uniformed officers were seen coming in and out of the house.
They confirmed they had seized "a number" of firearms, but would not say how many had been found nor what type of they were.
Neighbours were shocked to hear what had been found.
One nearby resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I saw the police car coming this morning, and when they parked outside the nursery I thought they were maybe giving the children a talk.
"When I came out I saw other cars in the next street which I knew were not supposed to be there."
Speaking about the residents living in the house, he added: "I don't see them around very often to be honest.
"They are quite an elderly couple, so I hope everything is okay.
"This is not a dangerous place in my opinion and I never thought we would see something like that."
Brian Daniels, 70, who lives on the other side of the road, said: "I have seen them every once in a while, but they keep to themselves quite a lot.
"I think it is an elderly lady who stays there with her son and I do see them walk up and down the street.
"It is just shocking. I don't see them around that often at all.
"It is not something which has ever happened here and I've lived in the village for about 43 years.
"I hardly see them about though and if I do, we just say 'hi'."
A member of staff at the nearby Jabberwocky Nursery said: "The police car was parked outside the nursery since 8am, but I'm not too sure what happened."
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed what had happened.
She said: "A number of firearms have been found and are being examined.
"It was a Metropolitan Police operation that happened to be in Bishop's Cleeve.
"For operational reasons we are not discussing further at this stage."
She said inquiries continued into the case.
The man who was arrested was later was bailed pending further inquiries.
He must return to Cheltenham police station on September 10.
