Ten arrests follow raids

TEN people were arrested yesterday following a morning raid on a number of houses in Hartlepool. About 40 officers swooped on six houses in the Oxford Road area of the town at about 8am in a crackdown on suspected drug dealers. Officers from Hartlepool police drugs unit and Hartlepool and Langbaurgh district support unit used enforcer battering rams to enter the houses. Handlers from Cleveland Police dog section were also in support. Four women and six men were arrested and are being questioned by police.

PRAISE GIVEN: Endeavour Housing Association, of Thornaby, which rents out 1,500 properties throughout Teesside and Durham, has been praised for its emphasis on tenant participation and for supporting and creating residents' groups in a Housing Corporation report. The association has three new members on its tenants' advisory board - Adrian Hill, of Skinningrove, Josie Hindmarsh, of Thornaby, and Kerrie Woodhall, of Middlesbrough.

OFFER DEADLINE: Drivers wanting to take advantage of a Cleveland Police-negotiated bargain price on attack-tested Dislok steering wheel locks have got until April 30 to apply.

SITE PLEA: Eaglescliffe Liberal Democrat councillors Jeremy Atkinson and John Fletcher are appealing for anyone who can offer land as a site for a skateboarding arena where school age enthusiasts can play safely and without causing annoyance to residents.

New cafe: Plans to build a cafe extension and children's play area at the front of the Community Resource Centre, Ainderby Walk, Hartlepool, and a meeting room and computer suite at the side have been approved by Hartlepool Borough Council.

book sale: A bumper booksale will be held at Stockton Central Library on Saturday, May 4. Doors will open at 9.30am, when there will be hundreds of books to choose from, including fiction, non-fiction, teenage, junior, paperback and hardback. Prices start from 40p.

Sticker swap: A Merlin football sticker swap shop will be held at the Asda store, Hartlepool, on Saturday and Sunday. Youngsters who collect the stickers are being invited along to the store, from 10.30am to 4pm on both days.