NINE people were last night being held on suspicion of involvement in organised prostitution after a series of police raids in the North-East.

More than 70 police officers and immigration officials swooped on properties across Darlington yesterday, arresting two men and seven women over alleged vice-related offences.

The operation saw addresses in the Feethams and North Road areas of the town raided at lunchtime. Police said the raids came after complaints from people living nearby.

The arrested men, who are in their 30s, were being questioned at Darlington police station.

The Northern Echo understands that all of the women who were detained are from the Far East, possibly from Thailand.

They were facing questions from immigration bosses last night as to whether they were in Britain illegally.

The women, who are in their 20s and 30s, were taken to a temporary detention centre in Spennymoor, County Durham, where they were being questioned by immigration chiefs.

Officers targeted a shop and residential property in Victoria Road, Darlington, four terraced houses in the town, and another home on the Ragworth estate, in Stockton.

Five women were arrested at the Victoria Road premises, while a further two were taken from a house in Gurney Street.

Other raids were carried out at addresses in Victoria Embankment, Corporation Road and Thompson Street West.

The Northern Echo understands that police also seized cash on suspicion of it being proceeds of organised crime.

Six teams of eight officers - uniformed and plain clothes police, operating with immigration specialists from various parts of the country - were used to search the properties.

A further 20 uniformed officers from Darlington police were also deployed.

Six officers, supported by interpreters from the immigration service, were assigned to carry out the interviews of those arrested.

Police are expected to conduct further interviews later today.

Acting Detective Inspector Alan Morris, a member of Durham Constabulary's major crime team, said the intelligence-led operation had been mounted as a result of numerous complaints from local people.

"All those detained have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the running of premises for prostitution or living off immoral earnings," he said.

"Suggestions have also been made that some of the women arrested are in this country illegally and that is something the immigration service will be looking at closely."

Neighbours living in the targeted areas last night told of their surprise at the raids, but some said there had been suspicions in the past.

A Victoria Embankment resident, who asked not to be named, said: "People had been talking about this kind of thing going on for a while, so it is not really a big surprise."

Another said she was aware of concerns about such activities being raised with police for some weeks.

If any of the women are found to be illegal immigrants, they will face deportation.

Last night, police were trying to establish their exact role in the alleged offences