A DRIVER has been arrested after a small quantity of cannabis was located following a failed drugs test.

After being spotted by a Greater Manchester Police patrol in Bolton, other crews assisted in stopping the vehicle close to junction 8 on the M61.

A small amount of cannabis - a Class B drug - was recovered by officers, before the driver subsequently failed a roadside drugs test.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and was taken into custody in Wigan.

Drugs offences in England and Wales rose by 27% during lockdown despite total recorded crime dropping by a quarter, figures have suggested.

Data obtained by the PA news agency under Freedom of Information laws showed that thousands more crimes linked to banned substances were recorded by police between March 23 and May 25 than in the same nine-week period last year.

There was also a rise of 11% compared with the number of recorded offences between January 20 and March 23 this year.