A CANNABIS farm was seized today when 120 police officers carried out raids at 13 North-East addresses.

Officers arrested 14 people - 13 men and a woman, all aged between 20 and 53 - when they swooped on a dozen properties in Darlington and an address in Stockton.

The suspects have all been arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs and were taken to police stations in Darlington and Newton Aycliffe, where they are helping police with their inquiries.

At one house, in Scira Court, in Springfield, Darlington, more than 20 cannabis plants were discovered and a small amount of the drug was also found in a terraced property in Eastbourne Road, Eastbourne, Darlington.

The raids, which are part of Operation Nimrod, also took place across Darlington in Thirlmere Road, Eastbourne; Thomas Court, Central; Parkside, Skerne Park; Barden Moor Road, Firth Moor; Marwood Crescent, Cockerton; Columbia Street, in the Denes; Harrison Terrace, in the Denes; Bowen Road, in Cockerton; and Sussex Way, in Albert Hill.

The police-led operation has been working with Darlington Drug and Alcohol Action Team, NHS Darlington, formerly Darlington Primary Care Trust, and Darlington Borough Council to talk to communities and provide support for addicts who want to deal with their problem.

The raids were carried out on information given to the police by members of the public who were concerned about drug dealing in their communities.

To follow up yesterdays action, teams of street wardens and police community support officers are distributing leaflets door-to-door in the immediate areas around the properties targeted.

These outline the police action and aim to reassure residents that the police are responding their concerns.

Superintendent Graham Hall, operations manager for south area command, said the force was grateful for intelligence provided by community members, whose tip-offs continued to help direct surveillance operations.

"Drug-users who genuinely want support to tackle their addiction will get every possible assistance. But we are determined to hunt down those who persist in being involved in this destructive and ruinous trade.

"The people who deal in drugs are often involved in other criminal activities; many are also prolific burglars and thieves. By arresting and convicting them of drug-related offending they will receive sentences which should act as a warning to anyone else tempted to go into this line of 'business'.

"My message to dealers is that information is coming into us all the time and we are acting upon it. It's very simple - stop, or prepare to be caught."