EIGHT people were arrested today in a series of early morning raids aimed at removing drug dealers from the streets of an east Durham community.

And tonight officers will ensure the arrests catch the attention of town centre crowds in Peterlee by using a floodlit projector to inform people of the result of the operation.

More than 100 officers, including specialist dog teams, were involved in simultaneous arrest operations throughout Peterlee.

The people arrested, aged from 19 to 38 are being held at the town's police station.

The operation is the latest strike under the Nimrod banner - a rolling programme aimed at tackling street level dealing throughout County Durham and Darlington.

Police also left "calling cards" at targeted houses with large stickers being posted on windows informing local residents exactly what the police operation was about.

Chief Insp Elaine Taylor said: "Today we targeted people who are known dealers supplying heroin cocaine and other drugs.

"Their removal from the streets is the consequence of months of careful evidence gathering.

"Near neighbours have been well aware of what we have been doing today."

He added: "Our use of the floodlit projector, which will use Lee House, near Asda, as a giant bill board, will ensure everyone out and about tonight will be aware as well."