ARMED police recovered these knives and balaclavas from a car in York this morning.

Members of North Yorkshire Police's armed response unit were on patrol in the Hull Road area of the city at 2.50am today, when they stopped a vehicle containing a man wanted by the force.

After stopping and searching the vehicle, they discovered a machete, a large kitchen knife, two balaclavas, and "a quantity of Class A and B drugs".

A spokesman said the driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs, making threats to kill, going equipped for theft and possession of a knife or blade in public. 

The female passenger in the vehicle was also arrested for possession of Class A and Class B drugs, possession of a blade in public, and going equipped for theft.

He said: "On searching the vehicle, police found a machete, a kitchen knife and two balaclavas. Officers also found what is believed to be cannabis and heroin in the vehicle.

"A man and a woman, both in their thirties and from the York area, have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently being detained in police custody while investigations continue."

The arrests were made with the assistance of the Roads Policing Group and the officers from the York South team.

More to follow.