RESIDENTS were left puzzled after police officers began a search in a garden in their neighbourhood.

A dozen police officers spent around an hour yesterday afternoon at the house on Holly Mount Road, Tolladine, searching through the garden and bushes.

Seven police cars and vans were parked along the street.

A woman at the house, opposite Gorse Hill Primary School, said she was surprised when she discovered that police officers had been in the garden.

"I don't know what they were looking for," said the woman, who did not want to named. "I was at my sister's when they came round."

Nearby residents said they were surprised to see the presence of police officers wearing black uniforms rummaging through the bushes.

Another woman, who lives three doors away from the property, said: "I was gobsmacked at seeing so many police officers. But I don't know what was going on. We normally keep ourselves to ourselves around here."

Police have not revealed what they were looking for, but a police spokesperson firmly ruled out any link between the search and a fire at a property in Avon Road, Tolladine.

"Police were searching the area for property as part on an ongoing investigation," she said.

"The search is now complete, but because the investigation is continuing we are unable to give any more details at the moment."