The biggest stash of heroin ever found at one address was discovered yesterday on top of a fridge.

The £10,000 haul, plus £5,000 in cash and bags of cannabis, was uncovered by the Brighton and Hove police seafront cycle squad.

They were on patrol when they received a tip off about drug dealing in Bedford Square, Brighton, and three officers and three Police Community Support Officers went to investigate.

They were carrying out house-to-house inquiries when one door was answered by a woman acting evasively and suspiciously.

PC Roy McMichael led a team of officers in and spotted the bags of heroin in the kitchen on top of a fridge.

One man and two women were arrested in what police described as a "significant" breakthrough in the war on drugs.

A force spokeswoman said: "This was dogged police work that paid dividends.

"The officers had little information to go on and decided to knock on doors to investigate and ask for help from residents."

She warned the crackdown on drugs would continue.

Last month police arrested 31 people and seized drugs worth £24,000.

Operation Illinois in Brighton and Hove involved more than 100 officers and resulted in 33 raids.

Sixteen of those arrested were charged with a total of 29 offences, including conspiracy to supply drugs and possession.

Twelve people were remanded in custody and the remaining 15 were released on bail pending further inquiries.

Drugs seized included heroin, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy.

Police also recovered stolen property, a gun, an air weapon and a crossbow.

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Bartlett, head of Brighton CID, thanked members of the public who provided police with information which led to the raids.

He said: "I hope we have shown that it is worth reporting drug dealing to the police as we will act on it."

Mr Bartlett urged people with drug information to call 0845 6070999.