Police have seized an assault rifle and ammunition in a chicken coop in Santa Cruz.

During an intelligence-led exercise yesterday afternoon, officers went to Orangefield Road, La Pastora Road, Upper Santa Cruz, where they carried out an extensive search of the area.

While searching a coop, they found a black plastic bag containing a Galil Ace Sar 7.62 calibre rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of 7.62 ammunition.