A man stopped on the M55 has been jailed after police found high-purity drugs worth £70,000 hidden in his van.

Stephen Allen, of Warrington Road, Prescot, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after the incident in February.

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The 37-year-old was stopped by Lancashire Police on the motorway near Kirkham.

Officers performed a routine stop on his VW Caddy as he headed westbound on the M55.

During a two hour search of the vehicle nothing turned up, however a police dog at the scene gave indications there were drugs on board.

Read more: Watch undercover footage showing how Preston drugs gang was snared

Police seized the vehicle and during a later search a purpose-built void was found behind the passenger seat.

It contained 2kg of cocaine with a street value of £70,000 or more.

Allen was arrested in July at Manchester Airport.

He was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

DS Chris Sanderson, of Blackpool Police, said: “When Allen was stopped he was in possession of a significant amount of cocaine which would undoubtedly have brought misery to the streets of Blackpool. It is thanks to the tenacity of the officers who initially stopped him that these drugs have been taken out of circulation.

“I am satisfied with the sentence handed to Allen and hope he will use his time behind bars to reflect on the consequences of his actions. I also hope it will send a message that the supply and distribution of drugs will not be tolerated in Lancashire, and we will continue to target, and deal with proportionately and robustly, those who put our communities at risk in this way.”