A WAR memorial plaque, more than £400,000 in cash and firearms were seized by police during a string of raids on scrapyards.

Officers also took away crushed antique and church silver, nine tons of copper, 15 tons of Scottish Southern electricity cable, Network Rail track, cast iron drain covers, BT cable and suspected class A drugs.

Sixteen raids were carried out across the Thames Valley on Tuesday, including at Smiths of Bloxham and TR Rogers and Sons in Nuneham Courtenay. Thirty-two people were arrested, including ten men in Oxfordshire who have been released on bail. Seven people will face no further action.

Police, specialist search teams and health and safety experts left the site at Nuneham Courtenay and six men aged 24 to 69 arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen goods and concealing criminal property were bailed until November 23.

Last night, the operation at Smiths of Bloxham was still ongoing and four men, aged between 23 and 68, were who were arrested were released on bail until November 20.