SIXTEEN arrests were made and 11 snakes seized in a police swoop on illegal traders on Blackpool Promenade.

"Operation Pavement" involved 20 police officers from the Intelligence Unit together with about 20 Benefit Agency, Fraud Investigation and Trading Standards officers who swooped on Tuesday afternoon (Oct 22) and a quantity of drugs was also seized.

Two inspectors from the RSPCA and a representative from Blackpool Zoo's reptile house also went to examine snakes used by one of the street traders.

The crackdown, part of an on-going campaign to clean up Blackpool's image and encourage families to visit the resort, took place on South Promenade near to the Pleasure Beach where most illegal trading occurs.

A total of 16 people were arrested for benefit fraud offences and two additional offences of suspected possession of controlled drugs.

Those arrested for benefit fraud offences were interviewed and bailed to appear back at Blackpool police station on December 4,5 and 6 pending further enquires into their benefit claims. DC Ian Mather from the Multi Agency Problem Solving Team said that the 11 snakes were seized from the Prom and from the house of a snake photographer.

RSPCA officers and zoo staff found that six of the snakes had a disease in their mouths, which was possibly a derivative of salmonella. The snakes are to be treated and re-housed.

DC Mather said: "These street traders will normally be claiming benefits and not declaring income derived from this illegal trading.

"Not only do the local law abiding trades people suffer through loss of income but those people who are paying taxes are helping to pay for people on benefits when they are generating illegal income.

"Operation Pavement was the outcome of weeks of observation and intelligence-gathering by the Blackpool-based Intelligence Unit and officers from the DSS Blackpool Assist Team in response to complaints and letters received from the public and other legal traders."