FOURTEEN people were arrested in the Manchester area suspected of carrying out robberies and car-jackings -- some of which have been in Rossendale.

More than 70 officers from Lancashire and Greater Manchester Police executed search warrants at 13 addresses in the Whitefield and Salford areas on Wednesday.

Operation Heroes targeted a team of offenders who are believed responsible for serious crimes in both Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Eleven men and three women from Whitefield and Salford were arrested on suspicion of a number offences of robbery including car-jacking, armed robbery and also commercial burglaries where computers have been stolen.

Fourteen people have been arrested. A 21-year-old man from Salford has been charged with robbery (car-jacking) and was in court at Bury Magistrates yesterday the other 13 have been given police bail pending forensic examination of property and identification parades.

Property was recovered including two firearms, stolen goods including computers, monkey wrenches, balaclavas and drugs believed to be cannabis.

Detective Inspector Jane Antrobus, from Whitefield CID, who is heading the investigation, said: "I am pleased with how the operation has progressed so far. We still have officers searching a number of addresses and I will hopefully be in a position to provide a full update later this morning. Members of the public should be reassured that suspected prolific and dangerous individuals have now been identified and arrested."