THE MAN arrested on Tuesday following an armed police raid in Ridgeway Drive, has been charged with production of cannabis and possessing a weapon and will appear in court this morning.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: "The 34-year-old man arrested on Tuesday April 15 following police attendance at an address in Ridgeway Drive Newport has been charged with three counts of being concerned in the production of cannabis, possession of a section 5 prohibited weapon and making a false written statement to police."

Police closed off part of Ridgeway Drive on Tuesday afternoon, cordoning off an area around a detached two-storey house.

The bomb squad joined armed police as they surrounded the house, while a man was arrested at Newport Central police staion.

Gwent Police later confirmed a device found on Ridgeway Drive was "not explosive" and that no cannabis was seized from the address.

Gwent Police said they attended the address as part of an ongoing investigation into cannabis production.

The man, from the Newport area, will appear at magistrates court this morning.