A SUBSTANTIAL amount of cash was seized by police when a car was stopped in St Helens yesterday, police say.

It was discovered stashed in a holdall that was recovered from a car that was pulled over on Hard Lane on Monday.

The seizure was part of an operation that also saw officers find 20 kilos of what is believed to be Class A drugs, with an estimated street value of more than £660,000, from a car stopped by officers on Mackets Lane, Halewood.

Officers from the Matrix Serious Organised Crime team have arrested seven people on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs as part of the investigation. 

Those arrested are aged between 21 and 50 years and come from St Helens, Huyton, Garston and Netherley.

Detective Inspector Mark Baker, from the MSOC Investigation Wing, said: "Merseyside Police is committed to tackling the supply of drugs on our streets and the positive action taken today is part of our relentless pursuit of those involved in serious and organised crime.

"People who supply drugs on our streets trade on the misery of others and I would appeal to anyone who has information about those involved in the drug supply in Merseyside to come forward so that we can arrest them and put them before the courts."

Anyone who has information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.