Two men on trial accused of smuggling weapons into the UK were caught on CCTV buying spades, pickaxes and waterproof bags which the prosecution say they were going to use to bury the guns.

The footage from the DIY store was shown to the jury at the Old Bailey along with videos of the arrests and the bags of firearms inside of the van.

Harry Shilling, 25, of Raspberry Hill Farm, Iwade, and Michael Defraine, 30, of Franklin Road, Bexleyheath, have pleaded not guilty to the illegal importation of firearms and possessing firearms with intent to endanger life.

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The prosecution alleged the pair were part of a gang, including Jennifer Arthy, 42, and John Smale, 58, both of Rochester Road, Halling, who imported automatic rifles and submachine guns "capable of unleashing carnage on a terrifying scale" into the UK from France.

The National Crime Agency filmed the group in August last year, after officers had been watching the Medway-based gang for weeks.

The cargo, worth more than £100,000, included 22 Czech-made assault rifles (closely resembling AK47s), nine Skorpian submachine guns and a large amount of live ammunition.

Watch: CCTV shows moment "arms smuggler" arrested in McDonald's

Three others – Arthy’s partner of eight years, David Payne, 42; Richard Rye, 24, of Lime Road, Swanley; and Christopher Owen, 30, of Bush Road, Cuxton – have already pleaded guilty to the charges.

A video of Rye being arrested in a branch of McDonalds by undercover officers was also shown to the jury - the box on the table contained a pickaxe.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Duncan Atkinson QC, said: “The items that they imported were deadly weapons that would find willing purchasers on the UK drugs market and amongst criminal gangs who lend or hire out these weapons, each of which was fully functional.”

Mr Atkinson explained the plan to import the weapons was not in dispute, but it was for the jurors to decide who was involved in the plan.

The prosecution are expected to wrap up their case today as the trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues.