POLICE are cracking down on drug dealers in an area of Darlington after repeated complaints from residents.

An operation targeting Gladstone Street and surrounding roads resulted in drugs being recovered by officers at the weekend.

The police decided to target the area after residents complained that their lives were being made a misery by anti-social behaviour, including drug dealing.

Last weekend, the operation entered its third stage, with high visibility police patrols on the streets.

Previously the police had acted on intelligence in the area, but it was decided more action was needed to stop the dealers.

During the latest stage of the operation two people were arrested in the area and eight others were searched.

A police spokesman said a small amount of drugs had been recovered last weekend, thought to be for personal use of the people involved.

He said: "We know drugs are being dealt in that area and we will not tolerate it.

"We are getting a lot of information and complaints from residents who are sick of the anti-social behaviour near their homes.

"These people are ruining the quality of life of residents. We are doing our level best to do something about it.

"At the very least we will suppress it, but we are determined to stop it. This operation is ongoing."