TWO brothers arrested during a drug swoop in a busy shopping centre have been sentenced to a total of six and a half years in prison.

Amjad Khizar, 23, and Omar Khan, 24, were convicted of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, as well as supplying class A controlled drugs after a week-long trial.

The pair, who lived in flats above Nelson's Galleries shopping centre, were sentenced at Lancaster Crown Court. Khan received two four-year sentences to run concurrently and Kisar a two-and-a-half-year and a one-year sentence, also to run concurrently.

The pair were arrested during a high profile warrant in the Galleries shopping centre in August.

Inspector Chris Bithell said he was happy with the outcome of the trial but promised residents that the targeting of known drug dealers would continue to rid communities of drugs.

He said, "I am pleased with the sentences given out for two reasons. First of all because of all the hard work the officers have put in targeting these individuals and secondly mostly importantly the sentences send out a clear message to other drug dealers highlighting the severity of their actions.

"We will of course continue to target suspected drug dealers throughout the whole of the Pennine Division leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to bring these people to justice and rid the local communities of drugs."

Inspector Bithell added, "Since June 2002 as part of the Safer Streets campaign the operations department alone has executed 110 search warrants, made over 150 arrests and seized more than £25,000 worth of controlled drugs and this work will continue.

"I'd like to thank our local communities for their support. Information from the public is vital if we are going to take action against drug dealers and our success to date is directly as a result of informtaion received from within the community."