TWELVE people were arrested in dawn drug raids in Burnley today as police swooped on 14 addresses as England prepared to kick off against Nigeria.

More than 200 officers including some drafted in from neighbouring forces took part in the raids, which were a culmination of a major drug investigation codenamed operation Monaco.

Detectives carried out a co-ordinated operation to raid homes in Daneshouse, Stoneyholme, Duke Bar and Burnley Wood and arrested some suspects as they watched the match on TV.

And today the man in charge of the operation said it was only the beginning of a major crackdown throughout the summer.

Detective Inspector Simon Leach said the timing of the raids on World Cup day was co-incidental but added: "I am very pleased with the success of today's raids. The operation was co-ordinated to stamp out any possibility of people tipping off other members of a drug network.

"But today is only the beginning. We will be continuing to crack down on drug crime throughout the summer and will target a total of 40 street level drug dealers. It is only a matter of when we will be knocking on their door."

The arrests follow more than six months of planning by Lancashire Constabulary's Safer Streets initiative.

Detectives said Operation Monaco was organised as a direct response to concerns about street dealers expressed by people questioned as part of the Task Force report in the Burnley Riots last June.

Residents were particularly worried about street level dealing of heroin and crack cocaine.

Those arrested as part of the operation were due to be questioned about the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in Burnley.