DRUGS, money and other equipment believed to be connected with dealing in illicit substances were recovered during a police raid on a council house.

A police community beat team executed a search warrant at a three-bedroom semi-detached property in Alder Park, Brandon, near Durham, at 5.30pm on Wednesday.

They removed a range of substances, including a block of cannabis resin, 360 ecstasy tablets and 36 wraps of white powder, believed to be cocaine or amphetamines.

All the substances are being sent to a laboratory for analysis. A total of £300, believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing, plus a set of scales and other drug-dealing equipment were also found in the house.

Durham Police said a 27-year-old man who was living at the address was arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply.

Following questioning, he was released on police bail, pending further inquiries.

Inspector Dick Dodds, of Durham City Police, said: "This was a well planned operation based on intelligence gathered over some time."

He estimated that the street value of the seized substances to be in the region of £3,000.