POLICE used Rat on a Rat tip-offs to raid eight houses for drugs in County Durham yesterday.

Officers in Chester-le-Street arrested five men, aged between 18 and 38, on drugs charges after early morning raids in nearby Chester West, Pelton, Grange Villa and Sacriston.

They seized cannabis, including a nine-ounce bar with a street value of £750, a quantity of amphetamines and pills, including temazepam.

Operation Array, which involved 40 officers, was the police response to a number of calls from members of the public stung into action by the Rat on a Rat campaign.

Launched in June, the police campaign is backed by The Northern Echo and Durham Agency Against Crime, and aims to urge residents to expose drug dealers in Chester-le-Street.

This latest blitz on drug peddlers follows a combined sentence of 47 years for ten heroin dealers from Chester-le-Street this week, and the seizure of drugs with a street value of £100,000 from a car travelling to Pelton in June.

Acting Detective Inspector Phil Atess said yesterday's operation had been a success, but urged more people to call the Crimestoppers number with information.

He said: "The operation went like clockwork and we are delighted with the arrest of five people.

"While the haul might not be as large as in other seizures, it is very rare to come across major dealers with a lot of drugs in their own home.

"We see this operation as a form of disruption tactic that lets everyone know we are around and that we are on their doorstep. This proves what we can achieve with the community's help.

"The volume of calls from Rat on a Rat may have been disappointing, but we are more than happy with the quality."

The five men arrested have been questioned and released on police bail pending further inquiries.