Police dig up buried stash of drugs in Creamfields grounds ahead of festival
Ecstasy, ketamine and laughing gas found hidden underground
Police have uncovered a large stash of drugs buried in the grounds of Creamfields, days before thousands of music fans are due to arrive.
Cheshire Constabulary found the class A, B and C drugs during pre-event searches of the Daresbury site.
The festival returns over the August Bank Holiday weekend, running from Thursday 27th August to Monday 31st August, with up to 80,000 people expected to attend.
Officers recovered large bags containing ecstasy, MDMA and ketamine tablets, along with around 204 canisters of nitrous oxide.
The drugs had been hidden and buried at the site, police said.
Specialist search teams are continuing to comb the grounds in the run-up to the event, and say they expect to find more.
"Anyone who has buried a rucksack and would like it back - get in contact with us"
Superintendent Andy Blizard, who is overseeing the Creamfields policing operation, said: "Every year we remind those attending Creamfields that there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs and, every year, we counter a number of brazen individuals who think they can outstart us by concealing drugs from view or burying them at the site months in advance.
"Our specialist search teams have spent a considerable amount of time combing the grounds of the Creamfields site ahead of festival's opening later this week.
"We fully expect to find further quantities as our searches continues, leaving many of those who chose to bury these items very much disappointed to find them no longer where left them when they arrive at the festival do dig them back up.
"Anyone who has buried a rucksack or hold-all bag at the site and would like it back is asked to get in contact with us - officers have already begun conducting enquiries to identify their owners and look forward to speaking to them soon."
Cheshire Constabulary will provide a visible presence throughout the festival, supporting event and security staff to prevent crime and disorder.