A SWOOP on suspected Internet perverts resulted in the arrest of a North-East man yesterday.

The man, in his 30s and from the Guisborough area of east Cleveland, was last night released on police bail after he was arrested as part of Operation Ore, which saw 36 suspects rounded up nationwide.

More than 30 forces were involved in the sting, which began almost a year ago when authorities in the US discovered that websites featuring sickening sexual abuse of children as young as five were being visited by British perverts.

Details of customers who had used the sites on a pay-per-view basis were obtained by the National Crime Intelligence Service because the paedophiles gave details of their credit cards and billing addresses.

Detective Sergeant Stuart Malcolm, of Cleveland Police's public protection unit, said the fact that such material was available to people with the click of a button in their own homes did not make it any less of an offence.

"We are resolved to track down people who access child pornography and today's operation shows our commitment to try to stamp out this evil trade."

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

The ages of those arrested ranged from 24 to 65, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers.