MORE than 70 police officers swooped on four Blackburn homes and a Darwen flat at dawn in the hunt for drugs.

The swoops yesterday resulted in the recovery of Class A drugs, thousands of pounds in cash, two guns and a number of high-value cars.

Police today said the "significant seizures" would make streets of Blackburn and Darwen much safer.

Lancashire's Major Crime Unit led the operation, with the help of local officers from the Eastern Division's support unit, CID, vehicle crime unit and specialist search teams.

Houses in Harrison Street, Inkerman Street, Tintern Crescent and Cronshaw Drive, all Blackburn, were raided as well as a flat in Entwistle, Darwen.

Police left Greenbank police station, Whitebirk, at 7.30am and carried out the raids simultaneously.

Four men were arrested and were due to be questioned by detectives at Greenbank.

Tests were being carried out on the drugs to establish exactly what they were.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Ronan, the officer in charge of the operation, said: "A number of co-ordinated raids were executed simultaneously in a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation as part of Eastern Division's commitment to fighting the supply of Class A drugs and organised crime.

"We have made some significant seizures today which in turn will help to make our streets safer for all."