Nine people arrested in connection to a ‘break in at a cannabis factory’ have been released on bail.

Bedfordshire Police have issued an update on Wednesday’s incident, which saw the M1 just south of Bricket Wood brought to a standstill at around 8.45am after armed officers stopped a vehicle which was travelling towards London.

The force said the stop was in connection with an incident in Luton earlier in the morning.

At around 7.30am, officers were called to reports of a break-in and a fight where several people were seen with weapons in Warren Street.

Police say people left the scene in two vehicles.

One car was later stopped in Luton and two machetes were found inside.

Watford Observer: Pictured is a stop on a vehicle in Luton this morning. Also pictured are two machetes seized. Credit: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Road Policing UnitPictured is a stop on a vehicle in Luton this morning. Also pictured are two machetes seized. Credit: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit

A second vehicle was later seen on the M1 travelling towards Watford.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the vehicle was stopped, with footage shot inside the target car showing armed police surrounding the vehicle with one officer hanging out of a window pointing their gun.

Bedfordshire Police say a cannabis factory was discovered in Warren Street after police officers carried out enquiries in the area. 

Watford Observer: Footage of a police stop involving armed police near Watford has emerged on social media. Credit: Twitter/@CrimeLdnFootage of a police stop involving armed police near Watford has emerged on social media. Credit: Twitter/@CrimeLdn

Police said on Wednesday that nine people aged between 18 and 23 from Luton, London, Hayes, and High Wycombe, were arrested in connection with the incident in Luton on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

The force has now confirmed that they have been released on bail.

Speaking on Wednesday, Detective Inspector Nick Gardner, from Bedfordshire Police’s crime investigation team, said: "We understand that this incident will cause concern among our local communities.

"We would like to reassure our residents that we are doing all we can to investigate this incident, and carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.

"The illegal drugs trade invariably brings violence, exploitation and other crime types with it. That’s why we’ll continue to crack down on the organised crime gangs involved in things like cannabis factories and stop them causing misery in our communities."

​Sign up for our weekly crime and court newsletter here and keep up to date with the latest crime news on our dedicated Facebook page here.