A CANNABIS farm was seized this morning when 120 police officers carried out raids at 13 North-East houses.

Officers arrested 14 people - 13 men and a woman, all aged between 20 and 53 - when they swooped on a dozen properties in Darlington and an address in Stockton.

The suspects have all been arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs and were taken to police stations in Darlington and Newton Aycliffe, where they are helping police with their inquiries.

At one house, in Scira Court, more than 20 cannabis plants were discovered and a small amount of the drug was also found in a terraced property in Eastbourne Road.

The raids, which are part of Operation Nimrod, also took place across Darlington in Thirlmere Road, Thomas Court, Parkside, Bardenmoor Road, Marwood Crescent, Columbia Street, Harrison Terrace, Bowen Road and Sussex Way.

Police, who are working with NHS Darlington, formerly Darlington Primary Care Trust, and Darlington Borough Council to liase with communities and provide support for addicts who want to deal with their problem.

The raids were carried out based on information given to the police by members of the public who were concerned about drug dealing in their communities.

Superintendent Graham Hall, operations manager for south area command, said: "My message to dealers is that information is coming into us all the time and we are acting upon it. It's very simple - stop, or prepare to be caught.

"The people who deal in drugs are often involved in other criminal activities; many are also prolific burglars and thieves.

"By arresting and convicting them of drug-related offending they will receive sentences which should act as a warning to anyone else tempted to go into this line of 'business'."