Police raided a flat they believed was being used by drug dealers.

Twelve officers smashed their way into a ground-floor flat in Whitehawk Road, Brighton, yesterday afternoon.

They did not find any illegal substances in the property but were confident it had been used as a drugs den.

A woman tenant was arrested for alleged shoplifting offences and a man was held for questioning on unrelated matters.

Two other men were questioned at the flat but were released without charge.

The flat was boarded up by council officials.

The Argus revealed last week how a new breed of "cuckoo" drug dealers is setting up home in addicts' houses to use them as crackhouses.

Sergeant Tony Lumb said the flat raided yesterday was being treated as another "cuckoo" case.

He blamed the failure to find any drugs on the time it took to break into the flat.

The front door was protected by several padlocks and a heavy block of wood rested inside the door.

It still took police under a minute to get in.

Mr Lumb said: "We strongly suspect the drugs were swallowed or destroyed somehow during that time.

"It was disappointing not to find anything but we are satisfied we have now closed down the premises."

A resident in the block of flats, who did not want to be named, said: "There have been people coming to and from the flat every day for months.

"It really has been absolutely horrendous for everybody.

"There are a lot of elderly people living here and their lives have been made a misery."