NINE drug offenders have been sent to prison for a total of more than 20 years following a major drugs crackdown in Lancaster and Morecambe.

The final tally was revealed with the sentencing at Preston Crown Court of the final defendant following a sophisticated undercover police operation.

Jeanette Putley, 31, of Euston Road, Morecambe, was the last offender to be jailed for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. She was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.

All the offenders were caught as part of Operation Nimrod, launched with the core purpose of ridding the streets of criminals openly selling drugs such as heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine.

The local clampdown in July last year saw police undertake a co-ordinated operation aimed directly at local drug dealers.

Detective Chief Inspector Martyn Leveridge says: "The sentencing is the culmination of a major operation dedicated to tackling drugs-related crime right across the county.

"Across Lancashire it has paid dividends with more than 5,000 warrants executed, drugs with a street value of more than £500,000 seized and more than 500 drug-dealers sent to prison."

"The sentences given to offenders from the Morecambe and Lancaster areas give a clear message that the police, together with the help of the public, can make the streets safer by targeting persistent offenders who continue to deal drugs in the community.

"Members of the public and key community contacts have been invited to observe first hand the Nimrod operations, and they have given the police extremely positive support."

He goes on: "We would ask that if the public have any information about drug dealing or other crimes that they ring their local police station or call Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.

Supt Mick Marren, operations manager for the police's Northern Division, says: "These are results that send a clear message to those who seek to ply their destructive trade on the streets of our locality that we will not tolerate it.

"We have listened to our communities and responded in a robust manner. We will continue this joint work and do everything in our power to disrupt all criminal activity and bring offenders to justice wherever possible."