A North-East village was sealed off yesterday as police thwarted a plot by dealers to invade County Durham with crack cocaine.

Officers formed a blockade around the tiny community of Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, at dawn.

At 6.30am, teams forced entry into a number of homes in the village and arrested several suspected heroin and crack dealers.

At the same time, police officers targeted addresses in Stanley, Sacriston, Ouston, Bournmoor and Chester-le-Street.

The intelligence-led operation, code-named Grenada, involved more than 250 Durham officers and was one of the biggest raids carried out by Durham Constabulary.

Ann Blewitt, chairman of Grange Villa Residents' Association, who has campaigned against drug dealers in the village, said: "I realised something was up and my first feeling was that it was about time," she said. "I was pleased and relieved."

It is believed to be the first time an organised gang has tried to bring crack cocaine into the county.

David Cliff, of the County Durham Drug and Alcohol Abuse Action Team, said: "Its appearance in Durham is worrying because crack is associated with particularly violent crime, and the risk behaviour of crack cocaine arguably exceeds that of heroin."

As part of the operation, Cleveland Police raided two properties in Stockton and Middlesbrough.

Northumbria Police also targeted three addresses in Beacon Lough, in Gateshead, Hebburn, in South Tyneside, and Birtley, near Chester-le-Street.

A total of 20 addresses were raided and police arrested 17 men and two women, all in their 20s and 30s.

Last night they were still being questioned at police stations across north Durham, while forensic teams carried out detailed searches of the properties.

The former mining community at the heart of the operation, Grange Villa, has a history of problems with hard drugs and crime.

Police took action after a meeting with the residents' association and North Durham MP Kevan Jones last year, which highlighted how drugs were blighting the community.

Chief Superintendent Derek Hall, north Durham area commander, said: "Local people have been impatient for action, but have remained remarkably tolerant.

"For our part, we were determined to solve their problems, rather than merely move them elsewhere."

Addict support services are preparing for a huge rise in demand, as the raids stifle supplies of hard drugs.

An extra doctor will be on call at the Western Hill clinic in Albert Street, Durham, and an emergency helpline has been set up to offer treatment to addicts in withdrawal.

The helpline number is 0191-383 0331.