Ecstasy, ketamine and more than 200 canisters of nitrous oxide have been found buried beneath the grounds of the Creamfields festival site.

Cheshire Constabulary officers seized the class A, B and C drugs hidden around the location in Daresbury, near Warrington, ahead of the event, which runs from Thursday until Monday.

The force suggested that anyone who had buried a bag at the site and wanted it back should get in touch.

Searches were carried out as part of "disruption work" ahead of the event, which 80,000 people are expected to attend, and will continue in the run-up, a spokesman for Cheshire police said.

In the first week of sweeps, specialist officers uncovered 204 canisters of nitrous oxide as well as large bags containing ecstasy, MDMA and ketamine tablets.

Photographs released by police show green tablets in the shape of Cornetto logos were among those recovered.

Superintendent Andy Blizard said: “Every year we remind those attending Creamfields that there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs and, every year, we counter a number of brazen individuals who think they can outsmart us by concealing drugs from view or burying them at the site months in advance.

“Our specialist search teams have spent a considerable amount of time combing the grounds of the Creamfields site ahead of the festival’s opening later this week.

“We fully expect to find further quantities as our searches continue, leaving many of those who chose to bury these items very much disappointed to find them no longer where they left them when they arrive at the festival to dig them back up.

“Anyone who has buried a rucksack or holdall bag at the site and would like it back is asked to get in contact with us – officers have already begun conducting enquiries to identify their owners and look forward to speaking to them soon.”

Creamfields will take place on the August bank holiday weekend with a line-up featuring Swedish House Mafia, Amelie Lens presents AURA and Disclosure. There will also be live performances from Faithless and Underworld, as well as global legends including Calvin Harris, Carl Cox and Martin Garrix.