DETECTIVES smashed a suspected heroin-dealing ring in Burnley and seized a 600,000-volt stun gun.

Heroin with a street value of £32,000 and a black Cobra stun gun were seized in a series of co-ordinated raids involving 25 officers yesterday morning.

Four houses were targeted by Burnley CID and baseball bats and several thousand pounds in cash were also uncovered.

Councillors in Bank Hall welcomed the swoops saying people were ‘sick and tired’ of drug dealing in the area.

The raids were carried out after neighbours told police about street dealing taking place near their homes.

The houses raided, in Cleaver Street, Claughton Street and Colbran Street, are within yards of Heasandford Primary School.

Det Sgt Martin Kennedy, who helped to co-ordinate the operation, said: “This was a significant seizure which will have an impact on the supply of drugs in that area.

“This should demonstrate our commitment to tackling drug-related crime.

“Our communities have told us that they do not want people who deal drugs to live among them and I hope people are reassured that we listen to their concerns and take action.”

Detectives said concerns had also been raised about the level of petty crime associated with drug-taking in the area.

Azhar Mahmood, of Cleaver Street, said: “I heard a lot of banging as I was getting ready to go to work.

There were quite a lot of police involved.

“It is good to see action like this being taken but it was quite a shock when it is so close to home.”

Janet Cochran, also of Cleaver Street, said: “It seemed like a fairly big operation.

"The police were concentrating on two houses in particular.

"It’s good they are doing something about the drugs problem.”

Police said the stun gun, cash and some of the baseball bats were found in Claughton Street and other wooden bats were seized in Cleaver Street.

Four arrests were made in the operation.

Coun Julie Cooper said: “These type of people prey on the vulnerable. What is worrying is that when one ‘shop’ closes, another one opens.”

Coun Gary Frayling said: “People around here are sick and tired of drug dealing, especially with these kind of weapons being involved. I say ‘well done’ to the local community.”

* Last night police were questioning a 27-year-old man and 23-year-old man from Claughton Street,a 28-year-old woman from Cleaver Street and a 30-year-old man from another home on Cleaver Street in connection with the raids.

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