A VAN has been seized and a man arrested after police officers spotted a suspected drug deal taking place in South Ockendon.

Officers from the Thurrock Town Centre Team saw the Ford Transit in Daiglen Drive on Tuesday 18 August, and what they believed was a deal taking place, before it drove off at speed. It was spotted again around an hour later, at 10.30pm, in Stifford Road, and the driver was stopped. A roadside drug wipe test was carried out and the van was searched.

A 39-year-old man from Westcliff was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving, being concerned in supplying a controlled drug, driving without insurance, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

The van was seized for being uninsured.