Five men have been arrested and £20,000 worth of cannabis recovered in police swoops on homes in the south Durham area.

The raids, carried out by officers from Spennymoor and Newton Aycliffe, were part of Operation Doors which targeted vehicle crime and house burglaries in the Sedgefield division.

Thirty six nine ounce bars of cannabis were found at a house in West Cornforth on Wednesday afternoon. A man in his 30s was in custody yesterday and is due to appear before magistrates at Newton Aycliffe this morning.

Five handbags recovered from a house at Ferryhill are believed to have been stolen from elderly women around the County Durham area. Two men were helping police with their enquiries yesterday.

Other property recovered during the operation, including some from homes in Spennymoor, is still being assessed by officers.

Another two men have been released on police bail while the investigation continues.

Detective Sergeant Paul Roe said the operation was continuing, adding: "It was a very successful operation helped by good quality intelligence.

"It targeted people who were plaguing their areas and hopefully we will be removing them from the scene for while."

Dale Easter, aged 39, from Howlish View, Leeholme, near Bishop Auckland, appeared before Sedgefield magistrates sitting at Newton Aycliffe yesterday charged with attempted burglary and breaching bail conditions imposed in connection with two previous burglary charges.

Her was remanded in custody to appear at the same court on September 11.