PUBS and clubs are to be blitzed by police as part of a crackdown on drugs and dealers in death.

The initiative has been planned after it was revealed Blackburn has the highest number of drugs arrests in the county so far this year, with more than a hundred seizures being made.

A town centre pub, The Swan on Astley Gate, was also named last week as a place where drugs had been bought.

The premises were highlighted during the inquest into the death of Langho teenager Gareth Noone, who died from an overdose of methadone and temazepam.

Supt Eddie Walsh, head of Blackburn Police, said he was drawing up battle plans to target licensed premises where drugs were being sold.

And he also said officers would also be focusing on the second hand dealers and car boot operators who knowingly accept stolen goods.

The Blackburn area has a serious drugs problem, particularly with heroin. Thefts from vehicles are playing a major role in fuelling drugs habits in the town, with a car radio being worth the same as a wrap of heroin on the black market.

Mr Walsh said: "We are assessing the problem and will be looking at the licensed premises where we know people are getting drugs.

"The people who run these premises will be looked at as part of what we are doing.

"But we will also be looking at the people who are accepting stolen property from the people who are stealing it.

"I am concerned that our intelligence and information in general from other organisations indicated a large drugs problem here, particularly with heroin."

The police aim to link in with other organisations to tackle the drugs problems.

Mr Walsh said a lot of anti-drugs was already being done in the area but the initiative was aimed at boosting existing programmes.

He said: "We are drawing up our battle plans because something needs to be done."

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