A DRUGS swoop earned community cheers signalling the start of a crime crackdown.

"Operation Razor" on Atherton's Hag Fold housing estate involved a high tech underworld intelligence operation aimed at slashing the line of supply between known distributors and addicts.

A quantity of heroin was retrieved and six people were arrested in connection with alleged offences ranging from possession, supply and conspiracy to supply drugs.

And the undercover operation brought a round of applause from Atherton Cllr Mrs Sue Loudon.

"We're really pleased at any positive action which improves the life of people who live in Atherton.

"People seem to be impressed with the effectiveness of Leigh Police Supt. Malcolm Howells and his team.

"The community has really worked well with the Police on this. People on the estate are over the moon. Drugs are a problem everywhere, not just on council estates, it's an unacceptable part of modern life.

"But the message is clear, we don't want drugs - anywhere."

Jubilant at the success of the operation Supt. Malcolm Howells, head of Greater Manchester Police's Leigh sub-division, warned: "People who deal in drugs and crime will be targeted - and they won't know when we are going to hit them. This is the first of a long series of operations."

Supt. Howells said drug dealing was a nationwide problem and his Leigh subdivision was, like many others, affected. But he felt the problem was not as prevalent in Leigh as in some other parts of Britain and the GMP areas.

LEIGH MP Lawrence Cunliffe wants to see the squeeze put on nightmare neighbours and petty thugs who terrorise neighbourhoods.

He made his plea as local MPs welcomed Home Secretary Jack Straw's latest law and order crackdown.

Mr Straw extended the scope of electronic tagging of offenders from Greater Manchester to the surrounding area. He also confirmed mandatory life sentences for repeat sex and violent offenders and seven year jail terms for three time drug dealers.

Mr Cunliffe asked for measures "to tackle disorder and anti-social crime, especially in industrial areas".

He asked for specific action to "resolve most of the torment and misery that has been inflicted on our neighbourhood communities by such crime".

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