THOUSANDS of pounds worth of drugs were seized in an on-going campaign aimed at cracking down on neighbourhood problems in east Durham.

Police joined forces with Customs and Excise, Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, the DVLA, Easington District Council and Durham County Council's education welfare unit to carry out the fourth phase of Operation Milkshake.

Organised by Peterlee Community Policing Team in partnership with Easington council's Community Safety Partnership (CSP), the initiative was a high- visibility campaign to tackle crime and environmental issues in Wheatley Hill, Thornley, Wingate, Shotton, Trimdon, Station Town, Deaf Hill and Hutton Henry.

Thirteen arrests were made during the course of the operation, which followed the success of similar operations in Peterlee villages earlier this year.

Police officers raided 15 locations for drugs and stolen property, which resulted in six arrests, three cautions for possession of drugs and the seizure of £14,000 of cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.

Stolen plant equipment worth £100,000, including tractors and JCBs, were also seized from one location.

Other arrests during the operation included two for burglary, three for theft, one for driving while disqualified and one for drink-driving while disqualified.

Passive drugs dog operations were carried out on 12 licensed premises, resulting in drugs being found in three of them.

A further three drugs dogs operations were conducted in Peterlee town centre, where two people were arrested.

British Transport Police assisted in the operation, carrying out covert surveillance on scrap metal dealers suspected of handling stolen goods.

Steve Arkley, chairman of CSP said: "Once again the initiative has been successful in tackling the issues that can have a big impact on communities and people's quality of life.

"The campaign also focused on people staying safe in their homes. Fire officers visited more than 500 homes during the course of the week-long operation, to offer advice on fire safety and fit alarms.''

Police also carried out more than 300 hours of patrols in target villages and delivered more than 1,000 leaflets to homes, giving information on work being done to tackle anti-social behaviour.