A 'potentially lethal weapon' was found by police searching inside a communal bin store in north Manchester.
The handgun and ammunition was found at the rear of a block of flats on Old Market Street, Blackley.
Officers made the discovery while 'engaged in unrelated matters in the vicinity' on Tuesday, a GMP spokesman said.
The weapon has now been made safe, a police spokeswoman said.
Officers are now appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.
They are keen to chat to people in the area who have noticed anything suspicious.
Det Insp Paul Crompton of GMP’s City of Manchester Division said: “Thanks to the diligence of officers conducting unrelated enquiries in the area, we have uncovered and removed a potentially lethal weapon from our streets.
“We are appealing for anyone with information to contact us. Do you live in the area or have noticed anything suspicious?
“If you have any information that can assist our enquiries, please get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 1146 quoting incident number 3082 29/09/20.
Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
