POLICE today stepped up their fight to rid Burnley of drugs by carrying out a number of early morning raids for the second day running.

It comes after officers charged 11 people following a series of simultaneous strikes against alleged drug dealers yesterday.

Today a number of them were due to appear before Burnley magistrates.

This morning more than 100 officers swooped on six addresses in Burnley, and the Hendly Hotel in Colne. Police said the Queen Street hotel was targeted because a suspect had recently moved there.

Nine more people were arrested and substances believed to be class A drugs were seized.

Community leaders today praised the police for the raids which were the culmination of months of intelligence work.

Today's sweeps followed raids at addresses across the town yesterday when 12 people were arrested, 10 on suspicion of drug dealing and two others in connection with a firearms offence and a breach of public order.

Burnley Wood councillor, Denis Otter, where several of the raids took place, said: "It is the culmination of lots of hard work. Drug dealing infects the community and 95per cent of the population of Burnley Wood back the response.

"It also reassures people their concerns about drugs are dealt with."

Chairman of Burnley Wood Action Group, Brian Fenn, said crime in the ward had plummeted 47per cent in the last year through police and the community working together.He added: "The community is behind the police, we don't want dealers in the area."