A man has been arrested on suspicion of drug dealing as a guest house was raided in Basingstoke.

Wessex House in Winchester Road was searched on Friday by police officers. It was the second time this year the guest house has been raided, but the two incidents are not linked, police have confirmed.

It came after a 39-year-old man was arrested in Brighton Hill.

Officers stopped the man on Brighton Way and arrested him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs shortly after 11am.

He has since been released from custody.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “At 11.12am today (19 November) officers stopped a 39-year-old man in Brighton Hill Way, Basingstoke.

“He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and remains in custody.

“As part of their enquiries officers searched premises on Winchester Road.”

When asked about the incident by The Gazette, the owner of Wessex House declined to comment and hung up.

It comes after a room in the guest house was raided in April, with Kirk Matthews, the occupant, found with almost £20,000 of super-strength cannabis and two doubled-barrelled pistols.

Matthews was jailed for eight years and four months. However, police are not treating to the two incidents as linked.

At the time, the owner of Wessex House told The Gazette he was shocked and said it was "dodgy guest".