Thousands of pounds worth of crack cocaine were seized during raids on suspected drugs dens.

Officers discovered 110 wraps of crack cocaine with a street value of more than £2,000 in two separate incidents on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

Police also found "a substantial number" of crack cocaine rocks when they yesterday called again at a drugs den they had raided just a week earlier.

Nine officers and a dog targeted the Lower Esplanade and the underpass linking it to West Street in Brighton on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

They found 70 wraps of crack cocaine and arrested a man.

Sussex Police officers also stopped a car in Mansfield Road in Hove just before midnight on Boxing Day.

They found £5,000 in cash and 40 wraps of crack cocaine inside the car.

A man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.

Sussex Police last week carried out Operation Disrupt, a two-day operation to stem the flow of drugs from London.

Substances with a street value of £40,000 were seized in raids on Wednesday and Thursday last week and 25 people were arrested.

One of the dens targeted was in Montpelier Road, Brighton.

Police thought they had cleaned out the dealers but learnt this week the property was still being used to peddle drugs.

Four officers raided the house at about 2pm yesterday and arrested five people.

Chief Inspector Lance Gray said: "We chose to revisit the premises given the unexpected presence of someone else who was there.

"We have seized a substantial amount of rocks of crack cocaine."

Superintendent Peter Coll, second-in-command of Brighton and Hove police, said: "I am delighted with these results, which build on the success of Operation Disrupt and indicate this is part of the fabric of our daily work.

"Links between crime and drugs are well-known, and we will continue to pursue this evil trade."

We revealed yesterday how a police unit was being set up to target drug dealers using Sussex roads.

Former traffic officers will make up the new force tactical strike team, lining roads to stop and check motorists for drugs.