29 October 2012 Last updated at 15:34 ET

Warrington freight train anti-tank mine theft suspects held

The three outstanding packages were safely recovered in Birkenhead

Three men have been arrested after anti-tank mines were stolen from a freight train in Warrington.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) munitions were stolen from a train last Wednesday night and have now been recovered.

Ten packages were taken but they were only spotted missing when the train arrived at Didcot, Oxfordshire, last Thursday.

Two men, both 29, were arrested on Sunday in Birkenhead and Sheffield. The other was arrested earlier.

The mines were described as being rectangular plastic cases, about 4ft (1.2m) long.

Searches ongoing

Police stressed they were stable and did not pose a risk to the public.

Seven of the packages were found near a railway line in the Folley Lane area of Warrington, Cheshire, following police searches.

The munitions were found to be missing when the train arrived in Didcot, Oxfordshire

The three outstanding packages were safely recovered by Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers based in Birkenhead.

A number of addresses in Birkenhead and Sheffield are being searched as part of ongoing inquiries led by the North-West Counter Terrorism Unit.

The Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport Police and the MoD are also involved in the searches.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crimestoppers.