EIGHT people have been arrested following drugs raids as part of a day of action in the Bridport area.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said more than 20 officers were involved in raids on properties in Shoe Lane in Bradpole, Armstrong Road in North Allington, and Lower Townsend in Burton Bradstock, which began at 10am this morning.

Police officers involved included a firearms team, police dog unit and officers from Bournemouth, Bridport and Weymouth. 

Insp. Mike Darby of Bridport Police said: "All three raids were carried out under misuse of drugs search warrants, in relation to the organised drug dealing that takes place in Bridport from London-based gangs."

He continued: "Currently, eight people are in custody helping police with their enquiries.

"This includes four people arrested in connection with the Lower Townsend raid, two in connection with the Armstrong Road raid, and three people in connection with the Shoe Lane raid - all in relation to supply of drugs offences.

Insp. Darby added: "Enquiries up until now have resulted in today's raids.

"Many members of the community have given us information, and I would like to thank them for that as it's enabled us to put together a good intelligence picture.

"We request that people continue to call 999 when they see people acting suspiciously or dealing drugs in the town."

Residents of Lower Townsend spoke of their shock following the raid.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "I went down the road to get my paper and when I came back I saw about five police vehicles – two marked vans and three police cars.

"Some of the police officers had black masks covering their faces."

Police officers had been knocking on doors to let the residents know what was happening, he said.

“The officer said they have to nip drugs offences in the bud."

He added it was not the first time the police have visited the road in recent years.

Another resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: “I didn’t see anything until the police came knocking on my door this morning.

“They said they had been doing an operation and said it was drug related.”