Ten handguns were among a selection of weapons that were seized at Dover's Eastern Docks.

The discovery was made by Border Force officers on Sunday afternoon when a British-registered Peugeot 308 was stopped.

After questioning the occupants of the car - two men from Lithuania - the vehicle was searched.

Among the handguns was 10 silencers and 100 x 9mm ammunition rounds within the body work.

The men, aged 31 and 44, were arrested and the investigation has since been passed to the National Crime Agency.

They were later charged with the attempted importation and appeared before Folkestone Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

They were remanded in custody and will appear at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday, April 5.

The weapons and ammunition have been sent to the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NaBIS) for further analysis.

Paul Morgan, director of Border Force south east and Europe said: "We are determined to prevent potentially deadly weapons such as these from reaching the UK’s streets and being used to cause harm.

"If you are caught by our officers trying to smuggle firearms like these into the country you will face prosecution."

Border Force officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the country.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call the smuggling hotline on 0800 59 5000.