POLICE are searching a house in Southampton in a drugs-related operation following an assault.

Officers are understood to have been at the terraced property in Romsey Road, Shirley, since the early hours.

Neighbours said a Mercedes car and a Kawasaki motorcycle had been seized as part of the investigation.

A police spokesman said: "Officers stopped and arrested a 34-year-old man on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Clarendon Road, Southampton, at 10.36pm on Saturday, March 18.

"As part of this investigation, officers searched a property in Romsey Road, Southampton. A quantity of drugs was found at the address. Officers remain at this address today to carry out further enquiries.

"The 34-year-old man has been further arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug of Class A and possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A. He remains in police custody.”

A police car is parked almost opposite the house and a police van is just around the corner in Sydney Road.

At one point a police officer with a bolt croppers could be seen in a narrow alleyway behind the house at the centre of the investigation.

A man living nearby said: “When I got up this morning there was a police vehicle parked outside and another round around the corner.

“I assume it’s some sort of drugs-related operation.

“This morning a police officer with a dog came to our door, said ‘Sorry, wrong house’ and left.”

Other residents said they were unaware of what was going on at the property.

One man said: “I don’t know who lives there. You used to know your neighbours but people come and go all the time now.”