Two men arrested close to the home of soul singer Joss Stone are being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to rob and murder.

Police said the two men, aged 30 and 33, were arrested in Cullompton, Devon. The men were initially arrested for possession of offensive weapons and being equipped to steal.

Officers found swords, rope and a body bag when they arrested the men near the 24-year-old star’s isolated country home, the Sun newspaper reported. The men also had detailed maps and aerial photos of her rural property.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: “Police attended an address in Cullompton after alert residents notified officers about a suspicious-looking vehicle ... [they] subsequently arrested the occupants of a red Fiat Punto. Major crime detectives are continuing to investigate.”

Police said the suspects were from the Manchester area.

Ms Joss’s representative said police had been in touch with the singer, adding: “Joss is aware of the arrests and is being kept informed by the police.”

The singer’s home is in a rural farming area in the Devon countryside, some miles north of Exeter.

Last month the Sunday Times Rich list placed Ms Stone, who grew up in Devon, as the fifth wealthiest British and Irish pop star aged under 30, with a fortune of £9 million.