A huge stash of pure cocaine with a street value of £100,000 was discovered in a major drugs bust.

Officers raided a home in Innes Close, Wickford, and found a large block of white powder, weighing 2kg. Tests confirmed the powder was the class A drug in its purest form, which is usually dilluted before it is sold on the streets.

Two men and one woman have been arrested in connection with the drugs haul.

The raid took place just after 5pm on Friday. Det supt Stuart Hooper, from Basildon police, said the discovery was a "significant result" for his officers.

He said: “We carried out a proactive warrant and found 2kg of cocaine in its pure form in a large block.

“To get it ready for street usage, they would then have added a mixture to it, so it would have been about 4kg of substance on the street.

“It is an amazing result for us.

“Organised crime has tentacles within our community. That level of drugs would have made its way to the streets of Basildon and to the most vulnerable people who would have been using it.

“That would have had an impact on antisocial behaviour and vehicle crime from people trying to fuel their habits.

“It’s a relief to get that level of drugs off the streets. It is a significant result.”

Anyone with information about drug dealing in Basildon can call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

• Sam Claxton, 34, of Henderson Gardens, Wickford, appeared before magistrates in Basildon on Monday charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

He denied the charge and was remanded in custody to appear at Basildon Crown Court on Monday, March 28 for a preliminary hearing.

Nina Wall, 28, of Innes Close, Wickford, and Charles Keenan, 39, of Elderton Road, Westcliff, have also been charged with possession with intent to supply have both been charged with the offence and are due to appear before magistrates in Basildon on Thursday, March 31.