A total of 31 people have been charged with drugs offences, following a series of dawn raids - the culmination of a year-long police operation.

Around 250 officers were involved in the execution of warrants at a number of properties in Blacon, Hoole and Lache, as well as addresses in Merseyside and North Wales, on Wednesday morning.

Operation ImpACT, which targeted organised crime and illegal drugs, is one of the largest ever undertaken by Cheshire Constabulary.

Of the 31 individuals charged - three of whom are juveniles - 17 are from Liverpool, 12 are from Chester and two are from Flintshire.

Charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs are: Graham Kielty, 40, from Chester; Christopher Davies, 29, from Chester; Jessica Jeory, 18, from Liverpool; Daniel Moreton, 21, from Liverpool; Rebecca Norman, 27, from Liverpool; Adam Jacobson, 21, from Liverpool; Russell Benjamin, 22, from Liverpool; Louis Jones, 20, from Liverpool; Darren Casseum, 45, from Shotton; Tawanda Smart, 19, from Liverpool; Danelle Moore, 18, from Liverpool; James Hartley, 30, from Liverpool; Anton Welch, 37, from Chester; Albie Brocklehurst, 22, from Chester; Brian Evans, 41, from Blacon; Julian Evans, 51, from Blacon; Sean Randles, 25, from Chester; Anthony O’Sullivan, 26, from Liverpool; Linda Novak, 56, from Chester; Anthony McHugh, 48, from Chester; Michael Moynihan, 22, from Chester; Christopher Harris, 24, from Liverpool; Thomas Fenlon, 29, from Liverpool; Craig Smith, 18, from Chester; Darren Storey, 36, from Flintshire; and Sean Gerrish, 22, from Liverpool.

Raymond Brett, 24, from Liverpool, is charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of a quantity of a class B drug.

Mubarak Ajgabe, 22, from Liverpool, is charged with possession of a class B drug and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

A 17-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl from Liverpool, and a 17-year-old boy from Chester are also charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Many of the defendants appeared before Chester Magistrates yesterday (Thursday, July 10).

The cases against them were sent to Chester Crown Court, where the defendants will appear on July 17 or July 21.