UPDATE: DRINKERS were searched for drugs when police raided a Bolton town centre pub.

Officers stormed The Griffin in Great Moor Street at around 2pm yesterday after receiving intelligence it was being used as a hub for the sale of drugs and stolen goods.

Around 40 people were searched before being released by police and one man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

The pub was then secured while officers and a drugs dog carried out a search for evidence, which revealed: l Five bags of what is believed to be cocaine on the floor of the men’s toilets l Empty packets of temazepam and diazepam stuffed down the backs of seats and benches l 70 bars of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate, worth £30, which police believe were stolen.

All the seized items will now be sent off for forensic tests.

Officers used cocaine swipes and an ultra violet torch to search for traces of the drug on surfaces around the pub, which uncovered residues of what is believed to be cocaine on the wooden window sill in the men’s toilet cubicle.

Licensee Ronald Ridgley, who has run the pub for the last seven months, said that he supported the police action.

“At the end of the day I don’t like drugs,” he said.

“They have been in before, but not on this scale.”

The pub’s licence will now come under review, but The Griffin may be allowed to stay open in the meantime.

Many of the lunchtime customers were angry about the searches.

One woman said: “They just came in and told us to sit where we were.

“They gave everybody a bit of a search and then they let us out.

“I didn’t have a clue what was going on, but if you have done nothing wrong you just sit still and if you have got something to hide you do a runner.”

Sgt Paul Ellis said: “I would like to apologise to the genuine customers for the inconvenience, but I think this action shows that the Bolton Town Neighbourhood Policing Team is committed to dealing with all elements of crime and anti-social behaviour and will react quickly when information comes to us.”