An entire North-East village was sealed off today as police targeted a North-East drug ring that was trying to bring crack cocaine into County Durham.

At dawn, officers formed a ring of blue steel around the tiny community of Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street.

Then at 6.30am, teams forced entry into a number of homes in the village and made several arrests.

At the same time, other officers targeted addresses in Stanley, Sacriston, Ouston, Bournmoor and Chester-le-Street. The intelligence-led operation, code name Grenada, involved more than 250 Durham officers.

It is one of the biggest ever mounted by Durham Constabulary and is the first time the force has targeted crack cocaine dealers. As part of the operation, Cleveland Police raided two properties in Stockton and Middlesbrough.

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

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

Some were arrested for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, while others are suspected of a string of other offences including burglaries, thefts and handling stolen goods.