MORE than 100 police officers launched one of East Lancashire's biggest ever drugs raids today as part of an operation targeting the area's major dealers.

Police said they hoped the raids would cause the supply of heroin to dry up'.

Officers struck at seven homes in Accrington, Oswaldtwistle, Blackburn and Helmshore shortly before 8am.

Six people were arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs and officers found £2,000 in cash and a quantity of what they believe to be heroin at the address in Helmshore.

Specialist search teams searched the homes with drug detection sniffer dogs.

Homes were raided in Princess Street, Pendle Street, Higher Antley Street and Meadow Street, Accrington; Banbury Avenue, Oswaldtwistle; Ambleside Close, Blackburn; and Musden Avenue, Helmshore.

Inspector Terry Woods claimed that the raids would send a shockwave' through the drug-dealing fraternity. He said the raids were targeting major distributors of heroin and also street level dealers.

He added: "We will leave no stone unturned in our bid to rid the streets of dealers."Decent people tell us time and again they do not welcome the disruptive criminal minority in their midst."

The raids followed months of undercover work. Guests from the community and the chair of the Lancashire Drugs Action Team Mark Hindle, watched the raids. Police community beat managers were also due to carry out high profile patrols to reassure residents.

Sessions have been arranged at the Maundy Relief Trust, Accrington, on Thursday and Friday this week between midday and 4.30pm for drug users to seek help through outreach workers.

Mr Hindle said: "Lancashire DAT has worked hard to ensure drug users have the opportunity to get help and treatment to stop using drugs when they need it.

"This is now the ideal time for anyone who wants help to get it."