Five homes in Chichester were targeted in a major police drugs swoop.

Twelve people were arrested and drugs worth more than £100,000 seized during dawn raids in West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.

About 250 officers from Surrey Police were involved in the operation yesterday morning.

Those arrested are today being held at various police stations in Surrey.

Details of how many arrests were made in Sussex have not been released.

Ecstasy, cocaine, £55,000 in cash, three vehicles and seven firearms were among the goods seized.

The raids were the result of a long-running crackdown.

Superintendent Kevin Deanus, from Surrey Police, said: "Class A drugs such as crack, cocaine and heroin have been identified as amongst the biggest threats to the continued position of Surrey as the safest county in the country.

"We have asked for the help of the community to fight the menace of drug-related crime and the large-scale operation we have carried out demonstrates that we are determined to take action against those who think they are untouchable.

"Our message to the dealers is that not only are we coming to take you off the streets but we are also coming to take your house and your car to make you realise that crime does not pay."