POLICE were yesterday starting to sift through suspected child pornography seized at a North-East house as part of a massive series of raids across the country.

A total of 36 suspected Internet paedophiles were arrested in the major operation, following a tip-off from authorities in the US.

Police raided 43 houses and flats and seized more than 30 computers, along with large quantities of discs and videos.

The crackdown targeted computer users accessing pay-per-view websites showing horrific images of sexual abuse of children as young as five.

Cleveland, Northumbria and North Yorkshire forces were all involved in the raids, which resulted in the arrests of two men.

North Yorkshire Police said officers were aware of the raids and played a very small part as they were involved in a search of a property. No one from the county was arrested.

A man in his 30s from the Guisborough area of east Cleveland has been released on police bail pending further enquiries after he was taken to Redcar Police Station. Computer equipment was removed from his home.

Tomorrow, 41-year-old Peter William Hall, of Reid Park Road, Jesmond, Newcastle, will appear before magistrates at North Tyneside tomorrow charged with making indecent photographs of children.