A Kearsley man was arrested in dawn raids carried out by police investigating a spate of burglaries at schools.

The suspect was one of three arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle.

The three men were arrested at separate addresses in Bolton, Manchester and Leigh on Wednesday.

A 29-year-old was arrested in Clifton Street, Kearsley, a 25-year-old in Clegg Lane, Little Hulton, and a 27-year-old in Furnival Street in Leigh. 

A number of electronic goods – suspected of being stolen — were seized at some of the properties, as well as a small quantity of cannabis at one house.

Items of clothing and footwear were also taken away for forensic examination.

The arrests related to three break-ins, between December 2014 and July, which took place at Culcheth High School and Culcheth and Bruche Primary School, both near Warrington, and Hollins Green Primary in St Helens.

Today’s raids were carried out by Cheshire Police. 

PC Matt Lagar said: “We hope these three arrests send a clear message to the community that we will deal with these offences robustly and we will do all we can in our power to bring those involved to justice.

“This type of crime has a harmful impact on the next generation and we will work rigorously to put a stop to those callous individuals who target schools and disrupt young people in the classroom.”