Suspected drug dealers in Eastbourne had a rude awakening today with a series of morning drug raids.

Four teams of about 40 police officers, clad in body armour and carrying shields, knocked down doors across the resort on the hunt for class A drugs.

Operation Fracture was the first in a wave of busts promised by the new district commander for Eastbourne.

Chief Inspector Peter Mills, who took over from Chief Inspector Martin Stevens today, told officers at a morning briefing: "I've been in post for an hour. It would be wrong on my first day not to continue with all the good work that has been done so far.

"A quarter of a million pounds' worth of drugs has been removed from the streets so far and today we are going to continue to bring that good work forward.

"What we have is a number of warrants for some of the usual places and some not so usual."

He said drug dealers would be targeted every four to six weeks with regular raids geared to infiltrate the town's underground network of dealers.

Today's initiative was expected to last all day and would concentrate on known hotspots in the town centre and outer areas of Eastbourne.

CID officers were to accompany uniformed police and dog teams to arrest suspects, search properties and collect evidence.

Extra staff at Grove Road police station were drafted in to deal with those arrested and a paramedic was also on hand.

Officers were told to wear body armour for the raids and only remove it in the presence of children, once they were sure the property was safe.

In July, more than 65 people were arrested in the biggest drug-related crackdowns ever launched in Eastbourne.

Around 250 police, including firearms units and dog handlers, launched a series of raids to tackle the town's growing crack cocaine trade.

Officers from across Sussex were split into teams of 20 and took part in co-ordinated swoops as the force helicopter circled above.