'LARGE quantities' of crack cocaine and heroin have been seized by police who swooped on homes in the Oxford Street area of Widnes.

Detectives say five people have been arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs and remanded in custody after officers carried out raids last week in the latest stage of a major drug clampdown dubbed Operation Burley.

They claim the discovery came as a direct result of tip-offs to the police and Halton Borough Council from worried members of the public who were sick and tired of the activities of alleged drug dealers near their homes.

Police are staying tight-lippped about the exact amount of drugs seized but described it as a 'large quantity'.

Police claim the latest success is clear evidence of how the public and police can work in a successful partnership aimed at dealing a body blow to the scourge of hard drugs in Widnes. And they are being urged to keep the information flowing.

The latest success comes hot on the heels of an operation in August which resulted in the arrest of 13 people and the discovery of thousands of pounds-worth of Class A drugs as well as weapons including a stun gun, machete and a flick knife.

Again, public information had proved crucial and police warned the operation had sent a 'clear message that drug dealers were not welcome in the community'.

DC Nigel Forrest, of Widnes CID, said: 'These arrests came as a result of the public contacting the police and Halton Borough Council.

'We were able to mount this operation only with their assistance.

'I want to stress that we always listen to what people say to us but it can take some time to see the results. This operation took a month or more since we first got the information.'

He added: 'At the end of the day this was a successful job but we do realise there will be someone taking over and we want to keep on top of this problem. We need people to keep coming forward with information.

'During this operation a lot of information came in but quite a lot of that was anonymous and we have to treat that with kid gloves.

'But when a person puts their name to a piece of information then we know that we can trust them.

'I would stress that anyone who does give us information will be treated in the strictest confidence.'

- Anyone who can provide information about suspected drug dealing in Widnes can contact DC Nigel Forrest directly on 01244 613 972.