THE ILLEGAL drugs trade was dealt a blow this morning when a major police operation involving dozens of officers resulted in the arrest of ten suspected heroin dealers.

Officers carried out a co-ordinated series of raids centred on private houses in County Durham at 8.45am - in an action marking the final phase of Operation Pembroke, which has been planned since February this year.

Around 80 officers were involved, including detectives from Chester-le-Street.

Seven men and four women were taken into custody at Durham city police station where they are still being questioned.

They were detained on suspicion of supplying class A drugs with the exception of one of the men, who was arrested for breaching a court order.

Officers targeted addresses in Tuart Street and Fifth Avenue in Chester-le-Street, Windsor Terrace in nearby Great Lumley, Arthur Street in High Handenhold, John Street, in No Place, as well as Butler Road in Newton Aycliffe. And officers from Northumbria Police made an arrest at a house in the Sulgrave area of Washington.

Chester-le-Street Community Inspector Paul Anderson said: "This long-running operation has been several months in the planning and has been designed to break up and disrupt the supply of heroin in and around Chester-le-Street.

"Those who choose to get involved in this sort of criminal activity should be aware they will become police targets.

"The knock-on effects of drug dealing, such as petty crime and anti-social behaviour also affect the wider community. By taking this action we hope to improve the quality of life for our residents."